The Mars Life Explorer (MLE) mission concept offers a critical opportunity to investigate whether extant life exists within the mid-latitude ice deposits of Mars.
Planetary Protection & Biosafety
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology, Microgravity, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations
Phenotypic, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Changes In Klebsiella pneumoniae After Long Term Exposure To Simulated Microgravity
Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) has been detected on space stations.
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Courses, Habitable Zones, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Science Fiction, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
A Terminology And Quantitative Framework For Assessing The Habitability Of Solar System And Extraterrestrial Worlds
The search for extraterrestrial life in the solar system and beyond is a key science driver in astrobiology, planetary science, and astrophysics.
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors
Planetary Protection: Technology For Ultra-clean Mini-lab To Contain Extraterrestrial Samples
Work has begun to design and build a Double-Walled Isolator (DWI), akin to an ultra-clean miniature laboratory to safely store and analyse extra-terrestrial materials, such as the first material from […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Rethinking Planetary Protection: An Island Biogeographical Analysis
We reconsider the problem of planetary protection using, by the analogy of planets as islands, the theory of island biogeography.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Conferences and Meetings, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
MEPAG Search for Life – Science Analysis Group Science Community Virtual Workshops
Part 1: Tuesday July 8th, 8am PDT/11am EDT/5pm CESTPart 2: Tuesday August 5th – Thursday August 7th, 8am PDT/11am EDT/5pm CEST Please join the MEPAG Search for Life-Science Analysis Group […]
Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Moon, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
A Microbial Survival Model for the Permanently Shadowed Regions of the Moon Shows Long-Term Survival of Terrestrial Microbial Contamination
Previous models of microbial survival on the moon do not directly consider the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). These regions shield their interiors from many of the biocidal factors encountered in […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report
Martian Samples, Hazards, And Biosecurity: Between Science And Bioethics
The fact that life-pastor present-has not been detected on Mars does not mean that it does not exist there. Indeed, the article is quite precise in highlighting that “a special […]
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report
Using An Offworld Life Science Glovebox
NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Exploring Life Detection on Mars: Understanding Challenges in DNA Amplification in Martian Regolith Analogue After Fe Ion Irradiation
The search for life beyond Earth currently hinges on the detection of biosignatures that are indicative of current or past life, with terrestrial life being the sole known example.