deserts Archives

Schematic diagram of the implications of microbial biofilms for astrobiology. Biofilms expand the habitability of microorganisms by shielding them from extreme conditions. This protective function is largely attributed to the EPS, which comprises exopolysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and e-DNA. In addition, biofilms are a promising source of biosignatures, as some components of EPS are highly resistant to degradation. EPS play a crucial role in biomineralization, the process by which microorganisms facilitate mineral formation, often in discrete and easily discriminated structures. The interactions between EPS and minerals further contribute to the preservation of these biopolymers, making them valuable indicators of microbial life on Earth and in extraterrestrial environments. -- Applied Environmental Microbiology

Analog Studies, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

An Astrobiological Perspective on Microbial Biofilms: Their Importance for Habitability and Production of Detectable and Lasting Biosignatures

by Keith CowingMarch 29, 2025March 29, 2025

The search for life elsewhere in the universe has remained one of the main goals of astrobiological exploration.

Biocrusts in the Negev Desert during the dry season. CREDIT S. Imminger

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Press Release, Space Agriculture

How Soil Microbes Survive In Harsh Desert Environments

by Keith CowingApril 17, 2024August 23, 2025

Prolonged droughts followed by sudden bursts of rainfall – how do desert soil bacteria manage to survive such harsh conditions?

Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Press Release

A Living Desert Underground

by Keith CowingDecember 3, 2013August 23, 2022

In the perpetual darkness of a limestone cave, UA researchers have discovered a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of microbes eking out a living from not much more than drip water, rock […]

deserts

An Astrobiological Perspective on Microbial Biofilms: Their Importance for Habitability and Production of Detectable and Lasting Biosignatures

How Soil Microbes Survive In Harsh Desert Environments

A Living Desert Underground

Material Cycling Across Earth’s Spheres And Triggers Of Cambrian Explosion: A Tectonic Perspective

Where Does Earth’s Nitrogen Go? Two Atoms Offer A Clue

Exotic Methanol Discovered In Planet-Building Zones

More Than One Thousand TESS Planets

First Detection Of Variable Water Clouds Outside Of Our Solar System