Sample Return Archives

Circles denote the location of eDNA samples collected and preserved by the ESP onboard Surveyor during its ~4200-km transit over 29 days (June 10–July 9, 2021) from San Francisco to the Hawaiian Islands. Transit across oceanographic domains, from the California Current upwelling system to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, is represented by sea surface temperature (SST) from satellite remote sensing. Shown is the June 2021 average of multiscale ultra-high resolution (MUR) SST Analysis fv04.1, acquired from https://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap/index.html.

Analog Studies, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ocean Planet Exploration Droids: Autonomous eDNA Collection Using An Uncrewed Surface Vessel

by Keith CowingNovember 30, 2024November 30, 2024

The collection of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples is often laborious, costly, and logistically difficult to accomplish at high frequency in remote locations and over large geographic areas.

The Mawrth Vallis region with the proposed landing site areas over (left) MOLA altimetry superposed on the THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System) daytime IR mosaic and (right) HRSC (High Resolution Stereo Camera) color and nadir mosaic. The ellipse envelopes are drawn in white for Mars2020 (12 km x 10 km) and red for ExoMars. The ellipses (120 km x 19 km) for ExoMars Launch Program Opening and Closing (LPO and LPC respectively) are in yellow. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report

Mawrth Vallis, Mars: A Fascinating Place For Future In Situ Exploration

by Keith CowingNovember 26, 2024November 26, 2024

After the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory rover, both NASA and ESA initiated a selection process for potential landing sites for the Mars2020 and ExoMars missions, respectively.

Microscope image of one of the small fragments of asteroid 162173 Ryugu studied by scientists at the Advanced Photon Source. This fragment is roughly 400 microns in diameter, or about the width of six human hairs. Credit Image courtesy of Argonne National Laboratory

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

Illuminating The Journey Of A 4-billion-year-old Asteroid

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2024November 25, 2024

The Science Researchers at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) joined an international effort to study tiny fragments of a nearby asteroid. The APS, a Department of Energy Office of Science […]

The new nanotube also has the unique ability to transfer ions that are dissolved in water directly into the vacuum of mass spectrometers. Credit Photo provided by Nicholas Drachman.

Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: New Mass Spectrometry Technology Could Transform Tiny Sample Analysis

by Keith CowingNovember 21, 2024September 18, 2025

Mass spectrometry is a powerful technique that allows scientists to break down and identify the building blocks of just about anything by measuring the mass of the tiny particles of […]

Organic-rich sulfate deposits can be seen in a lava tube from Lanzarote, Spain. CREDIT Bogdan Onac

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors

Away Team Update: Exploring Volcanic Caves To Advancing The Search For Life On Mars

by Keith CowingNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

Through the intricate study of lava tubes — caves formed following volcanic eruptions when lava cools down — an international team of researchers has uncovered clues about Earth’s ancient environments […]

(A and B) Circular phylogenetic tree of the microbial community composition exemplarily for the surface layer (0–5 cm depth) in Yungay (0.1% abundance); color codes reflect microbial classes (A). Clades unique to the e- or iDNA are shown in (B). Additionally, red and blue stars indicated predominate eDNA and iDNA clades in (A). NA means no taxonomic class. -- Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report

Living Microbes Discovered In Earth’s Driest Desert

by Keith CowingNovember 18, 2024January 11, 2026

The Atacama Desert, which runs along the Pacific Coast in Chile, is the driest place on the planet and, largely because of that aridity, hostile to most living things. Not […]

Rocky fragments from asteroid Bennu returned to Earth OSIRIS-REx -- NASA

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report

Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) Call for Applications for 2025 Membership

by Keith CowingNovember 18, 2024

The Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) is seeking applications for open volunteer service positions starting in 2025.

An individual submarine chimney at a depth of roughly 30 m. -- Science of The Total Environment

Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

White Smokers On The Floor Of The Dead Sea

by Keith CowingNovember 15, 2024November 15, 2024

The Dead Sea is a highly dynamic system: Its level has been dropping by roughly one meter per year for more than 50 years, because it is cut off from […]

Schematic deposit model showing formation of hydrothermal Fe- and Mn-oxide deposits at depth along faults during the Neogene (∼8.5–4.8 Ma) from ascending hydrothermal fluids driven by frictional heating and other fault-related processes; the deposits may have experienced minor uplift along faults during the Neogene and Quaternary, and variably exposed as seafloor outcrops predominantly by sediment slumping, rock falls, and other gravity-driven processes. Hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts formed at the seabed on all rock outcrops predominantly from dissolved and colloidal phases in ambient bottom seawater characterized by elements such as Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, REY, Sc, and others; the Fe-Mn crusts and sediments also acquired minor contributions from distal hydrothermal fluids characterized by Hg, As, and others, mostly volatile elements, which were incorporated into the crusts by sorption process on the framework Fe and Mn oxides and in the sediments by organic matter and Fe and Mn oxides—these low-temperature fluids have continued through the Quaternary. It is unknown whether the deep-seated hydrothermal deposits continued to form post-Neogene, which could be determined by additional dating. The base map cross-section is from Nikishin et al. (2021). larger image. -- USGS

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return

Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories

by Keith CowingNovember 13, 2024November 13, 2024

A new study from USGS describes a previously unknown process of marine mineral formation in the Arctic Ocean, driven by frictional heating along tectonic faults rather than by hydrothermal activity.

Macrograph of an approximately 70 µm amber extracted from the lignite in the sediments of the MeBo core PS104_20-2 9R. Credit Alfred Wegener Institute / V. Schumacher

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Sample Return

The First Amber Found In Antarctica

by Keith CowingNovember 13, 2024November 13, 2024

Roughly 90 million years ago, climatic conditions in Antarctica were suitable for resin-producing trees. A team of researchers led by the Alfred Wegener Institute and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg have […]

Sample Return

Ocean Planet Exploration Droids: Autonomous eDNA Collection Using An Uncrewed Surface Vessel

Mawrth Vallis, Mars: A Fascinating Place For Future In Situ Exploration

Illuminating The Journey Of A 4-billion-year-old Asteroid

Tricorder Tech: New Mass Spectrometry Technology Could Transform Tiny Sample Analysis

Away Team Update: Exploring Volcanic Caves To Advancing The Search For Life On Mars

Living Microbes Discovered In Earth’s Driest Desert

Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) Call for Applications for 2025 Membership

White Smokers On The Floor Of The Dead Sea

Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories

The First Amber Found In Antarctica

Material Cycling Across Earth’s Spheres And Triggers Of Cambrian Explosion: A Tectonic Perspective

Where Does Earth’s Nitrogen Go? Two Atoms Offer A Clue

Exotic Methanol Discovered In Planet-Building Zones

More Than One Thousand TESS Planets

First Detection Of Variable Water Clouds Outside Of Our Solar System