SEM images demonstrating the morphological changes of A. calidoustus conidia during exposure to SMC (irradiation, atmosphere, regolith, and cooling). White arrows indicate intact conidia, red arrows indicate lysed conidia, and yellow arrows indicate soil particles. Scale bar equals 5 µm. -- Environmental Microbiology

Analog Studies, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Desert Worlds, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Radiation, Space Life Science, Status Report

Survival Of NASA-cleanroom Microbial Isolates Under Simulated Space And Martian Conditions

by Keith CowingApril 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Planetary protection hinges on understanding microbial survival following reduction procedures, the stressors of space travel, and exposure to extraterrestrial environmental conditions. This study identified 23 fungal strains isolated from NASA […]

In a cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, on April 3, 2026, (from left) Sean Gazarik, Tyler Radomsky, Amber Dubill and Emory Toomey complete a “fit check” of Dragonfly’s top deck on the rest of the rotorcraft lander’s body. NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Saturn, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Astrobiology Exploration: Dragonfly Rotorcraft Hardware Integration and Parachute Test

by Keith CowingApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft is beginning to take shape – literally – with the delivery of the panels that make up the rotorcraft lander’s body. Built from ultra‑lightweight honeycomb panels designed […]

Configuration of the experimental Mars simulation chamber. (a) Schematic representation of the experimental facilities used to expose samples deposited on aluminum coupons (inset) to SMC. (b) Mean spectrum of supplied Martian solar irradiation (yellow, n = 6), compared against calculated Martian surface solar irradiation at 0° N (7) (black). (c) Mean temperature (blue, n = 2) and pressure (orange, n = 2) measured during a 1,440 min Mars simulation period. The inset shows fine-scale temperature variations within the final 360 min period. Shaded regions show standard deviations. -- Environmental Microbiology

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

How Resilient Fungus Might Survive Mars And Space

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Scientists have long known that fungi are resilient, but a new study suggests that some strains might survive every step of the long, brutal trip to Mars.

NASA scientist Mary Beth Wilhelm collects soil samples from Chile's Atacama Desert. Studying ancient life in the driest places on Earth helps us to understand conditions on Mars. -- NASA

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Status Report

Community Survey: Field-Based Studies And Sample Processing Facility

by Keith CowingApril 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Scientists at Northern Arizona University are conducting a research study gathering views from members of the planetary science community on field-based studies and the interest in a potential centralized facility […]

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Conferences and Meetings, Courses, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Video, Audio, Webcasts, Podcasts

EAI Online Workshop: The Rare Microbiome, Contamination & Planetary Protection (17 April)

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Please be advised of a slight change to the scheduling for our upcoming online workshop, “The Rare Microbiome, Contamination & Planetary Protection”, taking place on Friday, 17 April. To ensure […]

The concept behind the model is simple: life can travel to and terraform planets around other stars. In doing so, the planet that life travels to becomes more similar to the planet it came from. In this example, life from a planet resembling Earth travels to a red planet. The process plays out again and again. Each time, after being terraformed, a planet becomes more "Earth-like" than would be expected from random chance, given the locations of the planets. However, the focus is not on identifying Earth-like planets. Instead, the aim is to identify any group of planets that are more similar to each other than would be expected by chance, and are localised in space. This technique is agnostic: it does not require making assumptions about habitability or passing judgment on the "kinds of planets" that are amenable to life. -- Institute of Science Tokyo

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Terraforming & Geoengineering

Terraforming/Panspermia: A New Way To Detect Life Beyond Earth Without Knowing What Life Looks Like

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026

A research team of Specially Appointed Associate Professor Harrison B. Smith of Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Institute of Science Tokyo and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Lana Sinapayen of National […]

Meteorite samples -- EHU-University of the Basque Country

Exploration Gear & Tech, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

Contaminants, Including Ink, Detected In Meteorites Suggest Sample Preparation Needs Improving

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Several contaminants, including traces of ink, originating in the preparation of subsamples, have been identified in Martian meteorites by the EHU’s research group. The finding highlights the importance of stricter […]

Raman image of MoDTC from the MIL 090136 Martian meteorite (in blue). -- Science Direct

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report

Analysing The Sample Preparation Process In Meteorites And Its Impact On The Pretreatment Of Returned Samples To Earth

by Keith CowingApril 15, 2026June 10, 2026

The study of meteorites is important for planetary sciences because, among other things, it can provide information about the geochemical composition of their celestial body of origin. Often, subsample preparation […]

[LEFT] Nano-FTIR measurement of Region 1 (belonging to the aliphatic-rich cluster). Color-coded nano-FTIR spectra (A) of spots shown in the SNOM topography (B), optical amplitude (C), and mechanical amplitude (D) images. [RIGHT] Region 2 (also belonging to the aliphatic-rich cluster). -- PNAS

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report

Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy Reveals Complex Organic–mineral Assemblages In Asteroid Bennu

by Keith CowingApril 14, 2026April 14, 2026

Asteroid Bennu preserves primitive material from the early solar system, and returned samples allow direct examination of how organics and minerals were assembled and altered. We applied nanoscale infrared spectroscopy […]

Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Away Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Life Support Systems, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars

by Keith CowingApril 7, 2026April 7, 2026

Full report Exploration as a scientific endeavor exemplifies great American innovation. The first human steps on Mars will be a watershed moment for humanity and for science. The endeavor to […]

Planetary Protection & Biosafety

Survival Of NASA-cleanroom Microbial Isolates Under Simulated Space And Martian Conditions

Astrobiology Exploration: Dragonfly Rotorcraft Hardware Integration and Parachute Test

How Resilient Fungus Might Survive Mars And Space

Community Survey: Field-Based Studies And Sample Processing Facility

EAI Online Workshop: The Rare Microbiome, Contamination & Planetary Protection (17 April)

Terraforming/Panspermia: A New Way To Detect Life Beyond Earth Without Knowing What Life Looks Like

Contaminants, Including Ink, Detected In Meteorites Suggest Sample Preparation Needs Improving

Analysing The Sample Preparation Process In Meteorites And Its Impact On The Pretreatment Of Returned Samples To Earth

Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy Reveals Complex Organic–mineral Assemblages In Asteroid Bennu

A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars

A Proposal To Make Mars Sample Return A Collaborative NASA, ESA, And CNSA Effort

Planetary Research Program Metrics to Enable a Vital Research Community and Achieve Decadal-Level Science

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,220 9 October 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

Designing Protein Structures From Natural Language

How Long Could Volcanic Plumes Persist In The Venus Atmosphere?

2027 Sagan Summer Workshop Exoplanet Masses: In the Era of Gaia and Extreme Precision Radial Velocities