extremophiles
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Assessment Of Methods For Evaluating Structural Stability Of Cell Envelope Fragments In Hypersaline Brines As Biosignatures Of Ancient Microbial Life

by Keith Cowing

The study of biomolecular stability of proteins and lipids in extreme saline environments is critical for understanding the preservation of potential microbial biosignatures of ancient life on Earth and other […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

The “Bagno dell’Acqua” Lake as a Novel Mars-like Analogue: Prebiotic Syntheses of PNA and RNA Building Blocks and Oligomers

by Keith Cowing

The ongoing exploration of planets such as Mars is producing a wealth of data to define habitable environments beyond the Earth.

Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Adapting to UV: Integrative Genomic and Structural Analysis in Bacteria from Chilean Extreme Environments

by Keith Cowing

Extremophilic bacteria from extreme environments, such as the Atacama Desert, Salar de Huasco, and Antarctica, exhibit adaptations to intense UV radiation. In this study, we investigated the genomic and structural […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return, Status Report

Planetary Bioinformatics: Breaking Through Biology’s Data Wall On Earth

by Keith Cowing

Editor’s note: If we aspire to mount expeditions to new worlds and then embrace the task of characterizing and quantifying whatever life forms we find, the ability to map and […]

Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Moon, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report

A Microbial Survival Model for the Permanently Shadowed Regions of the Moon Shows Long-Term Survival of Terrestrial Microbial Contamination

by Keith Cowing

Previous models of microbial survival on the moon do not directly consider the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). These regions shield their interiors from many of the biocidal factors encountered in […]

Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ammonia Sets Limit To Life And Alters Physiology Independently Of pH In Halomonas Meridiana

by Keith Cowing

The subsurface oceans of icy moons, expected to retain appreciable concentrations of ammonia, are of significant interest to astrobiology. On Earth, ammonia is released in large quantities, primarily through anthropogenic […]

Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Status Report

Co-leveraging Scientific Advances in Space Biology and Astrobiology Towards Achieving NASA’s Life Science Objectives

by Keith Cowing

Executive Summary: Distinct lines of scientific inquiry drives the separation of NASA’s fundamental life science research into Space Biology and Astrobiology.

Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Status Report

Multiverse Predictions for Habitability: The Habitability of Exotic Environments

by Keith Cowing

The relative abundances of exotic environments provides us with (uninformed) bounds on the habitability of those environments relative to our own, on the basis that our presence here is not […]

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