Interstellar objects are visitors from solar systems beyond our own, and the third ever such object, known as 3I/ATLAS, has just been discovered. Using the Gemini North telescope, astronomers have […]
icy world
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Initial VLT/MUSE Spectroscopy Of The Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object to be discovered. Pre-perihelion measurements provide a unique opportunity to study its activity and composition, which may alter as it […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Enceladus, Icy Worlds, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Phosphates Reveal High pH Ocean Water On Enceladus
Enceladus offers our best opportunity for exploring the chemistry of an ocean on another world.
![A: Schematic of the ultra-high vacuum chamber used for electron irradiation experiments of Europan ice analogs. B: Shift in the resonant frequency of the QCM during co-deposition of H2O and CO2 ice from dedicated gas dosers. We first condense CO2 [1] from a doser at a constant rate of (0.25 ± 0.01) Hz/s (zoomed in the inset). We then admit water vapor [2] through a second doser which increases the deposition rate to (4.8 ± 0.2) Hz/s. When the film approaches the desired thickness (2.8 µm, which corresponds to a frequency shift of ∼ 21, 000 Hz), we terminate H2O gas deposition first [3] and continue with CO2 condensation briefly to ensure the terminal CO2 rate did not drift significantly from the initial value (< 10%). The CO2 doser is shut off at [4]. This co-deposition scheme using multiple gas dosers with QCM gravimetry allows for producing mixed ices with precisely tailored composition. This film has CO2 intimately mixed with water ice at (2.5 ± 0.1)% (by number) concentration. -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Laboratory-Investigation-Of-CO2-Driven.png?resize=1200%2C733&ssl=1)
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Charon, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Laboratory Investigation Of CO2-Driven Enhancement Of Radiolytic H2O2 On Europa And Other Icy Moons
Observations of Europa’s leading hemisphere reveal elevated H2O2 in the warmer, low latitude chaos terrains compared to the colder, polar regions.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Largest Oort Cloud Comet Ever Observed Reveals Its Secrets with ALMA’s Powerful Gaze
A team of astronomers has made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting molecular activity in comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)—the largest and second most distantly active comet ever observed from the Oort […]
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
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 inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Enceladus, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Chemoautotrophy In Subzero Environments And The Potential For Cold-adapted Rubisco
The act of fixing inorganic carbon into the biosphere is largely facilitated by one enzyme, Rubisco. Beyond well-studied plants and cyanobacteria, many bacteria use Rubisco for chemolithoautotrophy in extreme environments […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Alkali Phenoxides In Comets
Potassium was first detected in spectra of the sungrazer comet Ikeya-Seki at the heliocentric distance rh = 0.15 au and, 48 years later, in comets PanSTARRS and ISON at rh […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Exploring The Formation And Alteration Of Organics In Ice: Experimental Insights For Astrochemistry And Space Missions
The formation and alteration of organic molecules within the Solar System and beyond is closely related to the life cycle of ice in space. Cold molecular clouds in the interstellar […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Multiple Habitable Phases On Outer Exosolar Worlds
As stars evolve to higher luminosities during first ascension of the giant branch, previously frozen terrestrial worlds may thaw and host liquid water on their surfaces.