Being the backbone element of DNA, phosphorus is a key component in the search for life in the Universe.
biosignature
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.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Broccoli Gas (methyl bromide): A Better Way To Find Life In Space
Broccoli, along with many other plants and microorganisms, emit gases to help them expel toxins. Scientists believe these gases could provide compelling evidence of life on other planets.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
NASA ROSES-22 Amendment 54: C.22 Concepts for Ocean Worlds Life Detection Technology Not Solicited This Year
The goal of Concepts for Ocean worlds Life Detection Technology (COLDTech) is to support the development of spacecraft-based technology for surface and subsurface exploration of ocean worlds such as Europa […]