Radiation Archives

The POLARIS experiment undergoes ground-based testing ahead of integration with the MISSE Flight Facility outside the ISS. Credit: Aegis Aerospace and the U.S. Government

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Microgravity, Panspermia, Radiation, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Status Report

Antarctic Microbe Survival Tests Aboard The International Space Station

by Keith CowingMay 14, 2026May 14, 2026

An international team is sending microbes from Antarctica and Chile to the International Space Station (ISS) to study how they withstand radiation and other spaceflight stressors.

Biophysics, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Flare-driven Habitability: Expanding Life’s Potential Around Low-mass Stars

by Keith CowingMay 2, 2026May 2, 2026

The traditional definition of the circumstellar habitable zone (HZ) focuses on liquid water, but neglects the crucial role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in prebiotic chemistry.

Cyanobacterial crusts in the stratosphere during light exposure -- Microorganisms via PubMed

Analog Studies, Cryobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Press Release, Radiation, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors

Responses of Cyanobacterial Crusts and Microbial Communities to Extreme Environments of the Stratosphere

by Keith CowingMay 1, 2026May 1, 2026

How microbial communities respond to extreme conditions in the stratosphere remains unclear.

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 […]

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Radiation, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

ASTROREPOMICS: A Curated Transcriptomic Database For Reproductive Biology In Space

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Spaceflight imposes substantial physiological stress on reproductive systems, yet relevant transcriptomic data remain fragmented across repositories. To address this need, we developed ASTROREPOMICS, a web-based platform that integrates 17 rigorously […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Radiation, Status Report

Flare-driven Habitability: Expanding Life’s Potential Around Low-mass Stars

by Keith CowingMarch 31, 2026March 31, 2026

The traditional definition of the circumstellar habitable zone (HZ) focuses on liquid water, but neglects the crucial role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in prebiotic chemistry.

Industrial applications and role in the climate change of different classes of extremophiles. (a) Illustrations in the inner circle are representing the major classification of extremophiles, while the outer circle depicts their associated industrial and biotechnological applications. -- Frontiers

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Radiation, Sample Return, Status Report

Molecular Adaptations And Engineering Of Extremophiles For Synthetic Biology And Biotechnological Applications

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Extremophiles are microorganisms that thrive in environments previously thought to be uninhabitable, including extreme temperature, salinity, pH, pressure, and radiation.

A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrograph of a SiGe transistor for use on ocean worlds. This SiGe IC is built from large numbers of micron-sized (10^-6 m) SiGe transistors to enable electronic functionalities such as communications, sensing, and control. The entire SiGe IC is 5x5 mm^2 and the X-band (8-12 GHz) SiGe RF communications link is shown in the lower right. Image credit: John D. Cressler, Georgia Tech

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Europa, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Radiation, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Tricorder Tech: Developing Robust Electronics That Can Withstand Harsh Conditions on Cold Planetary Bodies

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026

A NASA-sponsored team has developed electronics that can operate reliably in the harsh radiation and temperature conditions found on distant planetary bodies like Europa, an ocean world orbiting Jupiter. Not […]

Different celestial objects and acceleration Credit Jani Närhi

Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics

New Model Defines An Upper Limit To Planetary Radiation Belt Intensity

by Keith CowingMarch 11, 2026March 11, 2026

We all know that stars radiate light and much more. But radiation belts can also surround many other celestial bodies, such as planets.

Assembly of cytoplasmic RNP condensates (yellow dots) in yeast cells in response to stress (Image: Riya Dhage)

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Press Release, Radiation, Space Life Science

Can Yeast Survive On Mars?

by Keith CowingMarch 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is an indispensable ingredient in making bread, beer, and biotechnology products. But this humble organism also holds clues to something more cosmic – how life could […]