extremophiles Archives

On the hunt for methanogenic microbes outside the Euryarchaeota, researchers started by collecting samples from Yellowstone National Park — also home to the Imperial Geyser pictured here. Image: Roland Hatzenpichler

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Joint Genome Institute (JGI)-Enabled Research Demonstrates The Existence Of New Methane Makers

by Keith CowingSeptember 30, 2024September 29, 2024

Atmospheric levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, regulate Earth’s climate. Most methane is produced in environments without oxygen through a process called methanogenesis. Methanogenic microorganisms therefore play a critical […]

Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, on the floor of the Pacific Ocean; surprising new research suggests deep sea rocks are capable of producing oxygen without help from plants or the sun. Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Geomar Bilddatenbank/ROV KIEL 6000, GEOMAR

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Oxygen Produced In The Deep Sea Raises Questions About Extraterrestrial Life

by Keith CowingAugust 27, 2024August 27, 2024

Over 12,000 feet below the surface of the sea, in a region of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), million-year-old rocks cover the seafloor. These rocks may […]

Microbial communities in the Lake form two distinct shapes: large round cones and smaller pinnacle structures. © Dale T. Andersen and James Grecian

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Microbial Structures In An Antarctic Lake Could Reveal More About How Life Evolved

by Keith CowingJuly 22, 2024July 22, 2024

By Emma Caton — In the depths of remote Antarctic lakes, communities of microorganisms are thriving where few life forms can survive.

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Preservation of Bacillus subtilis’ Cellular Liquid State at Deep Sub-zero Temperatures In Perchlorate Brines

by Keith CowingMay 20, 2024May 20, 2024

Although a low temperature limit for life has not been established, it is thought that there exists a physical limit imposed by the onset of intracellular vitrification, typically occurring at […]

Typical RNA-Seq experimental workflow. RNA are isolated from multiple samples, converted to cDNA libraries, sequenced into a computer-readable format, aligned to a reference, and quantified for downstream analyses such as differential expression and alternative splicing. Overview of a typical RNA-Seq experimental workflow. -- Wikipedia

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mars, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

The Use Of RNA-seq For The Study Of Physiological Adaptations Of Halophiles In Extreme Environments For Astrobiological Data Interpretation

by Keith CowingFebruary 16, 2024February 16, 2024

The purpose of this paper aims to discuss the utility of RNA-seq, a transcriptomic analysis tool, to study the details of halophile adaptations within terrestrial evolution and for projected Martian […]

IR-VIS–UV Raman spectra of the Xanthoria elegans sample: (A) as measured spectra in a photon energy scale, photon flux × integration time × number of averages are @ 325 nm: 3.2·1013 μm−2 s−1 × 10 s × 20; @ 532 nm: 1.5·1015 μm−2 s−1 × 0.1 s × 600; @ 785 nm: 3.4·1016 μm−2 s−1 × 5 s × 10; @ 1064 nm: 1.3·1014 μm−2 s−1 × 300 s × 1; (B) stokes spectra under different excitation wavelengths after reduction of PL and background signals, Raman signal is normalized on a maximal PL signal of each original, acquired spectrum; (C) a microscopic image of the sample. Inset (color bar) in (A) shows the approximate PL band for parietin. -- Journal of Raman spectroscopy

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Moon, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Comparative Raman Spectroscopy Of Astrobiology Relevant Bio-samples And Planetary Surface Analogs Under UV–VIS–IR Excitation

by Keith CowingOctober 22, 2023October 22, 2023

We investigated the potential of a laser selection in the broad optical range, from ultraviolet through visible to infrared (excitation wavelengths of 325, 532, 785, and 1064 nm) for combined analysis […]

Oliverio and Rappaport conducted field research over the summer at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California, which contains many hydrothermal features. CREDIT Syracuse University

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Exploring The Existence Of Life At 125°F

by Keith CowingSeptember 25, 2023September 25, 2023

There are an estimated 8.7 million eukaryotic species on the planet. These are organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Although eukaryotes include the familiar animals and […]

Double CARD–FISH was performed using probes Nper205 and Nbre448 to target cells of Ca. Nitricoxidivorans perseverans (green) and Ca. Nitricoxidireducens bremensis (pink), respectively, followed by DAPI staining of all cells (blue). Cell counts were performed in triplicate filter pieces from CARD–FISH and DAPI counts (n ≥ 1,000). Scale bar, 10 µm. - Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Microbes That Utilize Nitric Oxide Respiration

by Keith CowingJuly 10, 2023July 10, 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a fascinating and versatile molecule, important for all living things as well as the environment. It is highly reactive and toxic, organisms use it as a […]

The algae that colour the ice look like this under a microscope. Long microorganisms that protect themselves against the sun's radiation with dark pigment. CREDIT Alexandre Anesio

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Earth’s Glaciers In Greenland Are Teeming With Microorganisms

by Keith CowingMay 2, 2023May 2, 2023

There are no plants, and only very few animals: people rarely come here. The large glaciers in Greenland have long been perceived as ice deserts. Gigantic ice sheets where conditions […]

In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities expedition

Away Teams & Field Reports, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Hydrothermal Activity Discovered Along The Puy de Folles Vent Field

by Keith CowingApril 17, 2023April 17, 2023

NOAA, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and partners recently embarked on the In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities expedition on the Schmidt’s Research Vessel Falkor (too) to locate and observe hydrothermal vent […]

extremophiles

Joint Genome Institute (JGI)-Enabled Research Demonstrates The Existence Of New Methane Makers

Oxygen Produced In The Deep Sea Raises Questions About Extraterrestrial Life

Microbial Structures In An Antarctic Lake Could Reveal More About How Life Evolved

Preservation of Bacillus subtilis’ Cellular Liquid State at Deep Sub-zero Temperatures In Perchlorate Brines

The Use Of RNA-seq For The Study Of Physiological Adaptations Of Halophiles In Extreme Environments For Astrobiological Data Interpretation

Comparative Raman Spectroscopy Of Astrobiology Relevant Bio-samples And Planetary Surface Analogs Under UV–VIS–IR Excitation

Exploring The Existence Of Life At 125°F

Microbes That Utilize Nitric Oxide Respiration

Earth’s Glaciers In Greenland Are Teeming With Microorganisms

Hydrothermal Activity Discovered Along The Puy de Folles Vent Field

NASA Establishes Mars Forward Operational Risk and Contamination Evaluation (M-FORCE) Tiger Team to Shape Mars Planetary Protection Protocols

Opportunity to Contribute to NASA DARES Community White Paper on Phototrophic Biosignatures

The Search For Life Elsewhere: Avoiding Hype and Fostering Public Understanding

Panchromatic Spectra of Nearby Low-mass and Sun-like Stars with Directly Imageable Habitable Zones

Alfred: A Flexible, User-Friendly Python Package for Exoplanet Confirmation