Editor’s note: NASA Science Mission Directorate held a Community Town Hall on 26 October 2026. One of the questions that was posted in advanced was asked concerning NASA Astrobiology. Audio […]
Policy
Posted inSETI & Technosignatures
Beyond The Beacon: State And Corporate Competition After An Information-Rich Technosignature Detection
[astro-ph.IM] The 2026 update to the Declaration of Principles Concerning the Conduct of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence provides a framework for post-detection practice.
Posted inMars
A Proposal To Make Mars Sample Return A Collaborative NASA, ESA, And CNSA Effort
[Astrobiology (Journal) via PubMed] Humanity’s self-awareness drives the quest to understand the origins of life. Although Earth history has erased much of our planet’s early biological evidence, Mars preserves ancient […]
Posted inNASA Astrobiology Program
5 Questions About Astrobiology’s Future At NASA
Editor’s note: I just sent this to folks at NASA HQ and tweeted it at @Astrobiology With regard to the changes in how @NASAScience_ – NASA Science Mission Directorate proposed […]
Posted inNASA Astrobiology Program
NASA Is Forfeiting Its Global Astrobiology Leadership
Keith’s note: NASA presentations at a National Academies of Science on Tuesday left the panel confused and concerned about what NASA plans to do with its Astrobiology research. NASA did […]
Posted inPolicy
Possible News From The Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences Meeting
Editor’s note: The National Academy’s Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences Autumn 2026 Meeting is being held 6-8 October Tuesday – Thursday this week. According to the agenda there are […]
Posted inPlanetary Protection & Biosafety
NASA Planetary Protection Handbook
[NASA] This handbook provides guidance to mission providers and Planetary Protection (PP) practitioners on implementing PP measures for both robotic and crewed space missions. This handbook represents major updates to […]
Posted inPlanetary Protection & Biosafety
COSPAR Panel On Planetary Protection Endorses Proposed Update To The Mars Planetary Protection Policy
Source: LinkedIn [COSPAR]. Yesterday, 29 September, the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP) at its Executive meeting endorsed a proposed update to the Mars planetary protection policy, following a year-long […]
Posted inPlanetary Protection & Biosafety
Planetary Protection Directive From NASA Administrator Isaacman
NASA Team – NASA aims to expand science across every world we visit, and human exploration of Mars in particular offers an enormous opportunity in the near future. Accordingly, our […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general)
The Search For Life Elsewhere: Avoiding Hype and Fostering Public Understanding
[Astrobiology (Journal)] The search for life beyond Earth presents unique challenges for science communication due to its interdisciplinary nature, the potential for groundbreaking discoveries, and the inherent uncertainties involved.