Terrestrial geothermal springs, reminiscent of early Earth conditions, host diverse and abundant populations of Archaea.
Archaea
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report
The Limit of Life at Extremely Low Water Activity: Lithium-concentration Ponds in a Solar Saltern (Salar de Atacama, Chile)
Extremely hyper-saline ponds from an industrial lithium-concentration process in solar salterns in the Atacama Desert were studied to determine the limits of life at very low water activity.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors
Application Of Chemotactic Behavior For Life Detection
One excellent biosignature for the present detection of microbial life on Earth is motility, leading to its growing interest within the astrobiological community as an observable attribute that, if detected […]
Posted inAnalog 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
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.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report
CABO-16S: A Combined Archaea, Bacteria, Organelle 16S Database for Amplicon Analysis of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes in Environmental Samples
Identification of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms in environmental samples is currently challenged by either the burden of additional sequencing required to obtain both 16S and 18S rRNA sequences or […]
Posted inBiophysics, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Plant Biology, Radiation, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report
China Exoplanet Habitability and Ecosystem Space Experiment
The experiment of exo-ecosystem and the exploration of extraterrestrial habitability aims to explore the adaptation of terrestrial life in space conditions for the manned space program and the future interstellar […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Modern Immunity And Ancient Microbes
When you get infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it were passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years […]
Posted inArctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Ancient Antarctic Microorganisms Are Aggressive Predators
In Antarctica is a small lake, called Deep Lake, that is so salty it remains ice-free all year round despite temperatures as low as -20 °C in winter. Archaea, a […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return
New Groups Of Methane-producing Organisms Identified In Yellowstone National Park
A team of scientists from Montana State University has provided the first experimental evidence that two new groups of microbes thriving in thermal features in Yellowstone National Park produce methane […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The Guaymas Basin – A Hot Spot For Hydrothermal Generation And Anaerobic Microbial Degradation Of Hydrocarbons
Guaymas Basin is a young marginal rift basin in the Gulf of California characterized by active seafloor spreading, rapid deposition of organic-rich sediments, and steep geothermal gradients where sedimentary organic […]