[bio-protocol] Understanding microbial survival under extreme planetary conditions is critical for astrobiology and stress biology.
extremophile
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
Methanotrophy Under Extreme Alkalinity In A Serpentinizing System
[Nature] Serpentinization produces hyperalkaline, H2– and CH4-rich fluids that support microbial life and serve as analogs for ocean worlds such as Enceladus. While methane production in these systems has been […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
Comparative Genomics Of Space-resilient Chroococcidiopsis Cyanobacteria Reveals A Core Genetic Repertoire Supporting Extreme Tolerance Towards Desert And Non-Earth Conditions
[FEMS Microbes] Desert cyanobacteria of the Chroococcidiopsis genus, due to their remarkable desiccation and radiation tolerance, are considered model candidates in the field of astrobiology.
Posted inTardigrades
Extraordinary Creatures: Tardigrades
[Journal of Experimental Biology] Tardigrades are tiny ecdysozoans – creatures that grow by shedding their cuticle – with approximately 1500 species that have spread across the planet, from the ocean […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
Bacteria That Convert Uranium Into A Stable Chemical Compound
[HZDR] The radioactive heavy metal uranium is usually found in the soil in a mineral-bound form but can be converted into soluble forms by environmental influences or mining activities. If […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
From Mars to Minas: Research Reclassifies Organisms That Thrive In Highly Saline Environments
[JORNAL DA USP – Universidade de São Paulo] Organisms that defy life by thriving in environments where most other living beings could not survive. To date, there is no scientific […]
Posted inWater/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Deep-sea Creatures’ Epic Migrations Between Hydrothermal Vents
[University of Tokyo] Hydrothermal vents on the bottom of the ocean host a broad range of rare and unusual ecosystems. They can be spread very far apart, and yet there […]
![(A) Sampling location at the origin of Río Tinto, Spain (modified from García-Moyano et al., 2007). (B) The iron microbialites (white arrow) grew horizontally on a northeast-facing wall. (C) -- [GSA Bulletin]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Iron-microbialites.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAnalog Studies
Iron Microbialites From An Acidic Martian Analog (Río Tinto, Spain)—Implications For Finding Life On Mars
[GSA Bulletin] The search for life on Mars requires identifying suitable biosignatures detectable by rover missions or in returned samples. To support the progressing astrobiological exploration of Mars, we investigated […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments
Sample Return From Earth’s Deep Biosphere
[Northwestern University] By studying life deep inside a former gold mine, a Northwestern University-led team of scientists uncovered evidence that Earth’s hidden biosphere operates less like a random collection of […]
Posted inTricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Identifying Proteins, Molecule By Molecule
[Université de Genève] Proteins are responsible for most functions in the human body. However, their analysis, which is essential for understanding diseases, developing drugs, and discovering new biomarkers, remains highly […]