A team from the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS has developed a machine learning model that predicts potential planetary systems with Earth-like […]
Habitable Zone
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report
Ammonia or Methanol Would Enable Subsurface Liquid Water at the Martian South Pole
The notion of liquid water beneath the ice layer at the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) of Mars is an interesting possibility given the implications for astrobiology and possible human […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The CARMENES Search For Exoplanets Around M Dwarfs. Occurrence Rates of Earth-like Planets Around Very Low-mass Stars
Aims: Previous estimates of planet occurrence rates in the CARMENES survey indicated increased numbers of planets on short orbits for M dwarfs with masses below 0.34M⊙. Here we focused on […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Intelligence & Language, Press Release, SETI & Technosignatures, Societal Issues
What If We Find Nothing In Our Search For Life Beyond Earth?
What if we spend decades building advanced telescopes to search for life on other planets and come up empty-handed? A recent study led by ETH Zurich researchers including corresponding author […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Europa, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Identifying Signatures Of Past And Present Cryovolcanism On Europa
Europa, the most visibly active icy moon of Jupiter, is a prime target for the search for life in the outer solar system.
![Location of sediment sampling and pictures of resurrected species S. marinoi. (A) Map of the Baltic Sea (northern Europe) with the location of sediment core sampling (EMB262/6; 240 m water depth) in the eastern Gotland Basin (triangle). Additional sampling points of stratigraphy reference cores (points): M86-1a/36 [35], MSM62–60 [36], and P435-2-1 [34]. (B) Pictures of different Lugol-stained strains of S. marinoi. Strain SM_EGB_382_11 from 6871 ± 140 years of dormancy, SM_EGB_1_5 from 3 ± 2 years of dormancy, SM_EGB_107_1 from 1131 ± 110 years of dormancy, SM_EGB_20_4 from 58 ± 5 years of dormancy, and SM_EGB_232_2 from 3411 ± 120 years of dormancy. Scale bars = 20 μm. -- The ISME Journal](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Resurrection-Of-A-Diatom-After.png?resize=1200%2C717&ssl=1)
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Resurrection Of A Diatom After 7,000 Years From Anoxic Baltic Sea Sediment
Dormancy is a widespread key life history trait observed across the tree of life. Many plankton species form dormant cell stages that accumulate in aquatic sediments and, under anoxic conditions, […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Proxima Centauri, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Stellar Cartography
ALMA Shares A New View of Proxima Centauri
At a distance of just over four light years, Proxima Centauri is our nearest stellar neighbor and is known to be a very active M dwarf star.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Optimising Radial Velocity Detection Limits for Southern Habitable Worlds Observatory Targets
The planned NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) flagship mission aims to image and spectroscopically characterise 25 Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The Influence Of Stellar Activity On Detecting Earth-like Planets Via Nulling Interferometry
The direct imaging of Earth-like planets in solar neighbors is challenging. Both transit and radial velocity (RV) methods suffer from noise due to stellar activity.
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors
Fluorescent Caves Could Explain How Life Persists In Extraterrestrial Environments
Deep below Earth’s surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and […]