The last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) is widely thought to have been an oxygen-respiring organism, arising through endosymbiosis when a free-living bacterium became the mitochondrion.
Bacteria
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Desert Lichen Offers New Evidence For The Possibility Of Life On Other Planets
Lichen from the Mojave Desert can survive, and replicate, under levels of extreme solar radiation found on Earth-like planets in other solar systems.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
The Possible Crystallization Process in the Origin of Bacteria, Archaea, Viruses, and Mobile Elements
We propose a hypothesis for the simultaneous emergence of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and mobile elements by sequential and concrete biochemical pathways.
Posted inGaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Plant Biology, Press Release, Science Fiction, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Echoes of “Avatar”: Spruce Trees Communicate During A Solar Eclipse
Editor’s note: In the “Avatar” film series the interconnectedness of trees and other life forms is at the core of Pandoran ecosystems. On Earth, large expanses of trees exists wich […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Viral Activity In Lake Analogs Of Anoxic Early Earth Oceans
Background Meromictic lakes, with their stratified water columns, are modern analogs for ancient euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) oceans, where anaerobic sulfur-oxidizing purple and green sulfur bacteria (PSB and GSB) dominated […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release
Electrothrix yaqonensis: A New Species Of Electricity-conducting Organism
Scientists have identified a novel species of bacteria that acts as electrical wiring, potentially ushering in a new era of bioelectronic devices for use in medicine, industry, food safety, and […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Machine Learning Helps Construct An Evolutionary Timeline Of Bacteria
University of Queensland scientists have helped to construct a detailed timeline for bacterial evolution, suggesting some bacteria used oxygen long before evolving the ability to produce it through photosynthesis.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report
On-orbit Microbial Succession Patterns Of The China Space Station During The Construction Period
Background: The China Space Station (CSS) modules feature many areas that are difficult to clean and thus susceptible to microbial outbreaks. A new sampling method utilizing an equivalent material sheet […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Patagonian ‘Living Rocks’ Trace Their Origins To The Beginning Of life On Earth
In the Patagonia region of southern Chile, there are “living rocks.”
![The Köröm thermal well green [KG] biofilm sample and its two isolated layers. Close-up photo (left) of a cross-section of the green [KG] biofilm sample. The sample shows an exterior (upper panel), greenish blue colour [KGA] and an interior (lower panel), pale green colour [KGB] layer. The red arrows mark carbonate precipitates. -- Eötvös Loránd University](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Adaptation-to-Extreme-Conditions.png?resize=1200%2C719&ssl=1)
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Adaptation to Extreme Conditions: Thermal Water Biofilm Studies Could Help Understand Ancient Ecosystems
Hungarian researchers have discovered unique bacterial communities in thermal waters that may help unravel the development of stromatolites, one of Earth’s oldest rock formations. These findings not only contribute to […]