endolithic Archives - Astrobiology

Location of all three MET stations, Lake Fryxell (LF), Explorer Cove (EC) and Marble Point (MP). The site investigated by Büdel et al. (2008) is marked as B. Note the proximity of Lake Fryxell and Explorer Cove to the Büdel site (all within the MDV inland) and the coastal location of the Marble Point -- Springer Nature via PubMed

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Dew And Frost Do Not Serve As Water Sources For Rock-dwelling Organisms In The Dry Valleys Of Antarctica

by Keith CowingMay 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Rock-dwelling chlorolichens and cyanobacteria provide most of the total biomass of the ice-free zone of Antarctica, i.e., the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), and yet, the water sources of MDV are […]

Photographs of the microclimate monitoring systems that were implemented in the study: (A) Air temperature and humidity sensor in a 12 cm diameter radiation shield. (B) Light sensor mounted ~10 cm above the rock surface in a stand. (C) Conductivity sensor (one of six). (D) Dew sensor (7 cm on a side) 4. Not shown are the rock temperature sensors and the tipping bucket rain gauge. (Photographs by Irit Nir). (E) Geological Map of Timna Park showing the location of the rain gauge in Timna Park. (F) Stratigraphy Index of the Geological map (Origin of the map and the index: Beyth et al. 1999). -- Environmental Geology Reports

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

The Biology, Microclimate, and Geology of a Distinctive Ecosystem Within the Sandstone of Hyper-Arid Timna Valley, Israel

by Keith CowingSeptember 17, 2025September 17, 2025

Microbial endolithic communities in the sandstone rocks of the southern Negev Desert, particularly in Timna Park, were initially discovered by Imre Friedmann and Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann in their pioneering study about […]

Survival and growth strategies of Antarctic endolithic microbes residing in Earth's driest and coldest desert remain virtually unknown.

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Metagenomics Untangles Potential Adaptations of Antarctic Endolithic Bacteria at the Fringe of Habitability

by Keith CowingFebruary 27, 2024

From 109 endolithic microbiomes, 4,539 metagenome-assembled genomes were generated, 49.3 % of which were novel candidate bacterial species.

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Novel Endolithic Bacteria Of phylum Chloroflexota Reveal A Myriad Of Potential Survival Strategies In The Antarctic Desert

by Keith CowingFebruary 27, 2024August 23, 2025

The ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are dominated by nutrient-poor mineral soil and rocky outcrops. The principal habitat for microorganisms is within rocks (endolithic).

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of [NiFe]-hydrogenase gene sequences obtained from our MAGs (n = 2433), with reference sequences obtained from the HydB and previous phylogenetic analysis. Branches and reference gene labels are colored according to the group of [NiFe]-hydrogenase. Bootstrap values >90% are depicted as filled circles on branches, with size reflecting value, and 1000 ultrafast bootstrap iterations applied. The phyla of the originating MAGs assembled in this study are displayed in a color-coded outer ring. In cases where RuBisCO large subunit gene/s co-occurred within these genomes, the proportion of forms present is indicated by external pie charts. -- biorxiv.org

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Metagenomics Untangles Metabolic Adaptations Of Antarctic Endolithic Bacteria At The Fringe Of Habitability

by Keith CowingAugust 18, 2023August 18, 2023

Background: Endolithic niches offer an ultimate refuge, supplying buffered conditions for microorganisms that dwell inside rock airspaces. Yet, survival and growth strategies of Antarctic endolithic microbes residing in Earths’ driest […]

mage: endolithic organism found within Antarctic rocks by NASA Astrobologists.

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Polar / Alpine Expeditions

Looking for Endolithic Organisms on Mt. Everest

by Keith CowingMay 4, 2009June 12, 2026

One of the things Scott Parazynski will be looking or during his ascent of Mt. Everest is evidence of habitable zones for microorganisms. Given the low temperatures, air pressure, high […]