The surface of Mars is sterilized by ionizing radiation and pervasive oxidants; its shallow subsurface, shielded from ultraviolet light and the most reactive oxidation, may instead preserve habitable conditions.
ionizing radiation
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Galactic Forcing Increases Origination Of Marine Microplankton
The continuous flux of Galactic cosmic rays that bombard Earth’s atmosphere creates ionizing radiation that can damage the DNA of living organisms.
Posted inBiophysics, Enceladus, Europa, Habitable Zones, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Radiation
Estimating The Potential Of Ionizing Radiation-induced Radiolysis For Microbial Metabolism On Terrestrial Planets And Satellites With Rarefied Atmospheres
Ionizing radiation is known to have a destructive effect on biology by causing damage to the DNA, cells, and production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), among other things.
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Radiation, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Antibody Resistance to Space Conditions after Exposure Outside the International Space Station
Antibody-based analytical instruments are under development to detect signatures of life on planetary bodies. Antibodies are molecular recognition reagents able to detect their target at sub-nanomolar concentrations, with high affinity […]