Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences Archives - Astrobiology

Pink arrows point to spherical, radiating aggregates of gypsum crystals observed in the lower part of stromatolitic sample from Salar de Pajonales in northern Chile. These structures illustrate gypsum mineralization associated with microbial biosignatures. Credit Tebes-Cayo et al., 2026. -- Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Gypsum Sustains Microbial Life Under Extreme Conditions – This Could Help Us Study Mars

by Keith CowingMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

Terraces near Flamencos Lagoon in the southeastern Salar de Pajonales (Chile), located at 3,517 m above sea level in the arid Altiplano, host relic gypsum stromatolites and crusts formed under […]

Photomicrographs images of microfabrics within carbonate nodules in this study under plane-polarized transmitted light (TL). (A) A TL image of the boxed zone in Figure 2E shows micrite-dominated and sparite-dominated bands, corresponding to the light and dark bands respectively. (B) A cross-section of the nodule (B) in Figure 2 shows a concentric zoned structure. (C) A cross-section of the nodule with multiple cores shows an irregular growing pattern of zoned structures inside. (D) A TL image showing micrite texture in the porous light bands of zoned structures. (E) A TL image of the boxed zone in Figure 2H shows the occurrence of detrital minerals in nodules. (F) A TL image of the boxed zone in Figure 2F shows the occurrence of detrital minerals in the micrite matrix. (G) An enlargement of a sparite-dominated band in panel (A) showing radial-fibrous texture. (H) Close-up of the white box in panel (C) showing alternate micrite and sparite that is composed of radial-fibrous texture. (I) Close-up of the white box in panel (D) showing micrite texture in porous light bands. , Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Status Report

Taphonomy Of Biosignatures In Carbonate Nodules From The Mars-analog Qaidam Basin

by Keith CowingJuly 29, 2024July 29, 2024

Early diagenetic nodules with low permeable and weather-resistant structures are considered to be favorable for biosignature preservation.

Integrated Biosignature Preparation for Ocean Worlds (BioPOW) instrument prototype. This figure shown is a (A) labeled schematic, (B) image of the assembled prototype, scale bar is 2 cm. -- Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Science

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Tricorder Tech: Biosignature Preparation For Ocean Worlds (BioPOW) Instrument Prototype

by Keith CowingJuly 20, 2024July 7, 2024

In situ sampling missions to detect biosignatures on ocean worlds requires thorough sample preparation to manage the expected chemical complexity of such environments. Proposed instruments must be capable of automatic […]

Isovaline -- Wikipedia

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

On The Correlation Between the Enantiomeric Excess of L-isovaline and the Level of Aqueous Alteration in Carbonaceous Meteorites

by Keith CowingJuly 7, 2024July 6, 2024

A positive correlation was observed between the enantiomeric excess (ee) of L-isovaline (L-iVal) and the degree of aqueous alteration (AqA) of carbonaceous meteorites. The origin of this remarkable phenomenon has […]

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 […]

Potential fossilization traces

Away Teams & Field Reports, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

An Atacama Desert Microbial Community As A Model For Astrobiology

by Keith CowingNovember 26, 2022August 23, 2025

The grit crust is a recently discovered, novel type of biocrust made of prokaryotic cyanobacteria, eukaryotic green algae, fungi, lichens and other microbes that grow around and within granitoid stone […]