American Society For Microbiology Archives - Astrobiology

Configuration of the experimental Mars simulation chamber. (a) Schematic representation of the experimental facilities used to expose samples deposited on aluminum coupons (inset) to SMC. (b) Mean spectrum of supplied Martian solar irradiation (yellow, n = 6), compared against calculated Martian surface solar irradiation at 0° N (7) (black). (c) Mean temperature (blue, n = 2) and pressure (orange, n = 2) measured during a 1,440 min Mars simulation period. The inset shows fine-scale temperature variations within the final 360 min period. Shaded regions show standard deviations. -- Environmental Microbiology

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

How Resilient Fungus Might Survive Mars And Space

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Scientists have long known that fungi are resilient, but a new study suggests that some strains might survive every step of the long, brutal trip to Mars.

(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 […]

Blood Falls, Antarctica, where microbes live under the ice. Iron and other elements from the bedrock below the ice become oxidized when it interacts with air, producing the rusty red coloring. Source: Jill Mikucki

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrobiology (general), Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Europa, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Subglacial Microbial Life On Earth And Beyond

by Keith CowingFebruary 23, 2024February 23, 2024

The search for life beyond Earth fascinates many and inspires big questions: Are we truly alone in the Universe? Is our Earth unique? Is it possible that life beyond Earth […]

TEM morphology of Halomonas phage vB_HmeY_H4907; the scale bar is 100 nm.

Away Teams & Field Reports, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

A Newly Identified Virus Emerges From The Mariana Trench

by Keith CowingSeptember 21, 2023September 21, 2023

The Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth, plunges nearly 11,000 meters at its lowest point on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Life persists in the deep and cold […]

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments

Experiments With Salt-tolerant Bacteria in Brine Have Implications For Life On Mars

by Keith CowingJune 26, 2019

Salt-tolerant bacteria grown in brine were able to revive after the brine was put through a cycle of drying and rewetting. The research has implications for the possibility of life […]