The ability of Deinococcus bacteria to survive in harsh environments, such as high radiation, extreme temperature, and dryness, is mainly attributed to the generation of unique pigments, especially carotenoids.
Planetary Protection & Biosafety
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Societal Issues, Space Life Science, Status Report
Design, Development, And Operation Of An ISO Class 5 Cleanroom For Planetary Instrumentation And Planetary Protection Protocols
Cleanrooms are controlled environments where the number of airborne particles is reduced to a level defined by an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard. These facilities have applications in different […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
Microorganisms Can Travel Vast Distances In Earth’s Troposphere
Analysis of air samples taken at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres above Japan has revealed the presence of a vast range of viable bacteria and fungi transported by air […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Conferences and Meetings, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Science Community Virtual Workshop: MSR Sample Receiving Project Science Objectives
Date: Wednesday September 11, 9-11 am PDT/12 pm EDT/ 6 pm CEST
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Planetary Protection: Extremophilic Bacteria Isolated from the NASA Phoenix Mission Spacecraft Assembly Cleanrooms
Human-designed oligotrophic environments, such as cleanrooms, harbor unique microbial communities shaped by selective pressures like temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, cleaning reagents, and radiation. During the Phoenix spacecraft mission, genomes of […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Oxygen Produced In The Deep Sea Raises Questions About Extraterrestrial Life
Over 12,000 feet below the surface of the sea, in a region of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), million-year-old rocks cover the seafloor. These rocks may […]
Posted inConferences and Meetings, Exploration Gear & Tech, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Call for Abstracts: NASA SMD Virtual Workshop on Planetary Protection
Our second Science Mission Directorate virtual event, a three-day workshop, will take place from October 30th – November 1st. We are currently accepting abstracts from the community to introduce mission […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Impact events, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return
Researchers Have Identified The Craters Where The Majority Of Martian Meteorites Most Likely Originate
An international research team has identified the specific origins of most of the Martian meteorites that are now on Earth. They’ve traced the meteorites to five craters where they were […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Status Report
How To Become Part Of The NASA Planetary Sample Science Community
How to Become Part of the NASA Planetary Sample Science Community is a series of virtual sessions scheduled for November 6, 13, and 20, 2024. These sessions will provide an […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Radiation
Microbes That Can Withstand Microwave Exposure
Since the industrial revolution, microbes have successfully colonized one novel type of habitat after another: for example marine oil spills, plastic floating in the oceans, industrial brownfields, and even the […]