Plant Biology
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Iceworld Update: Photosynthesis in Near Darkness

by Keith Cowing

Photosynthesis can take place in nature even at extremely low light levels. This is the result of an international study that investigated the development of Arctic microalgae at the end […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Cryobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gravitational Biology, Life Support Systems, Mars, Plant Biology, Radiation, Space Agriculture, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering

The Extremotolerant Desert Moss Syntrichia caninervis Is A Promising Pioneer Plant For Colonizing Extraterrestrial Environments

by Keith Cowing

Many plans to establish human settlements on other planets focus on adapting crops to growth in controlled environments. However, these settlements will also require pioneer plants that can grow in […]

Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Space Agriculture, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Observation of Significant Photosynthesis in Garden Cress and Cyanobacteria under Simulated Illumination from a K Dwarf Star

by Keith Cowing

Stars with about 45 to 80% the mass of the Sun, so-called K dwarf stars, have previously been proposed as optimal host stars in the search for habitable extrasolar worlds.

Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Plant Biology, Radiation, Status Report

UV Photo-degradation of the Secondary Lichen Substance Parietin: A Multi-spectroscopic Analysis in Astrobiology Perspective

by Keith Cowing

The cortical anthraquinone yellow-orange pigment parietin is a secondary lichen substance providing UV-shielding properties that is produced by several lichen species. In our work, the secondary metabolite has been extracted […]

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