Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Ken Sims, Professor of Geology and Geophysics, and […]
biosignature
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Sedimentary DNA Can Influence Evolution: Establishing Mineral Facilitated Horizontal Gene Transfer As A Route To Bacterial Fitness
Horizontal gene transfer is the one of the most important drivers of bacterial evolution. Transformation by uptake of extracellular DNA is traditionally not considered to be an effective mode of […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Biosignature Line Ratios Of [P II] In Exoplanetary And Nebular Environments
Being the backbone element of DNA, phosphorus is a key component in the search for life in the Universe.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Photochemical Hazes Can Trace The C/O Ratio In Exoplanet Atmospheres
Photochemical hazes are suspected to obscure molecular features, such as water, from detection in the transmission spectra of exoplanets with atmospheric temperatures < 800 K.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Plant Biology, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Photosynthetic Fluorescence From Earth-Like Planets Around Sun-Like Aand Cool Stars
Remote sensing of the Earth has demonstrated that photosynthesis is traceable as the vegetation red edge (VRE), which is the steep rise in the reflection spectrum of vegetation, and as […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
GCM Constraints On The Detectability Of The CO2-CH4 Biosignature Pair On TRAPPIST-1e With JWST
Terrestrial exoplanets such as TRAPPIST-1e will be observed in a new capacity with JWST/NIRSpec, which is expected to be able to detect CO2, CH4, and O2 signals, if present, with […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Venus
There Is No Phosphine On Venus According To SOFIA
Phosphine is a gas found in Earth’s atmosphere, but the announcement of phosphine discovered above Venus’s clouds made headlines in 2020.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Venus
Recovery of Phosphine In Venus’ Atmosphere From SOFIA Observations
Searches for phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere have sparked a debate. Cordiner et al. 2022 analyse spectra from the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and infer <0.8 ppb of PH3.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving
Perseverance Investigates Fine-grained Sedimentary Rock On Mars For Biosignatures
Exploring a sediment-rich location in this Mars delta offers tantalizing opportunities for the six-wheeler’s science team.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Panspermia, Press Release
Solid Grains Ejected From Terrestrial Exoplanets As A Probe Of The Abundance Of life In the Milky Way
Searching for extrasolar biosignatures is important to understand life on Earth and its origin.