Context. Homochirality is a generic and unique property of life on Earth and is considered a universal and agnostic biosignature. Homochirality induces fractional circular polarization in the incident light that […]
Tricorders & Sensors
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Press Release, Space Stations, Tricorders & Sensors
Multi-Spectral Fluorescence Imaging System for Studying Gene Expression on ISS
All organisms exposed to the spaceflight environment exhibit changes in the expression of many genes relative to the comparable ground controls left on Earth. The Multi-Spectral Fluorescence Imaging System (Spectrum) […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Organic Molecules Found In 3.5 billion-year-old Rocks
A research team including the geobiologist Dr. Helge Missbach from the University of Cologne has detected organic molecules and gases trapped in 3.5 billion-year-old rocks. A widely accepted hypothesis says […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Bioverse: A Simulation Framework To Assess The Statistical Power Of Future Biosignature Surveys
Next-generation space observatories will conduct the first systematic surveys of terrestrial exoplanet atmospheres and search for evidence of life beyond Earth. While in-depth observations of the nearest habitable worlds may […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Design Of The Life Signature Detection Polarimeter LSDpol
Many biologically produced chiral molecules such as amino acids and sugars show a preference for left or right handedness (homochirality). Light reflected by biological materials such as algae and leaves […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Citizen Science / Open Science, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
iGenomics: The World's First DNA 'Tricorder' In Your Pocket
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists developed the world’s first mobile genome sequence analyzer, a new iPhone app called iGenomics.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Spectropolarimetry Of Primitive Phototrophs As Global Surface Biosignatures
Photosynthesis is an ancient metabolic process that began on the early Earth, offering plentiful energy to organisms that utilize it, to the extent that they can achieve global significance. The […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: This Device Could Help Detect Signs Of Extraterrestrial Life
Although Earth is uniquely situated in the solar system to support creatures that call it home, different forms of life could have once existed, or might still exist, on other […]
Posted inMissions & Hardware, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
ORIGIN Mass Spectrometer
The question of whether life exists beyond the Earth is one of humanity’s most fundamental questions. Future NASA missions, for example, aim to examine the ice moons of Jupiter and […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Life Detection Technology – Development of Solid-State Nanopore
Biomarkers collected from past and present life on Earth are a central guide in the development of flight-ready technologies designed to search for life on other planets and moons. Data […]