Editor’s note: Hamzah Abugosh has built a functional tricorder. I share the same fascination he has with the notion of a Tricorder as seen on Star Trek since I was […]
life detection
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mars, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Mars Mission: A Stress Test For The Search For Life
Billions of years ago, environmental conditions on Mars were significantly more hospitable than they are today. Our neighbouring planet was likely warm, humid, and surrounded by a dense atmosphere.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors
Elemental Stoichiometry As An Ecological Biosignature With Applications To Life Detection
The vast chemical space of possible small molecules, estimated at 1060 compounds for molecules composed of just C, N, O, and S, is only sparsely occupied by biology.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, NASA Astrobiology Program, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
π NASA Astrobiology Report: PESTO Search for Life Instrumentation Study For Solar System Life Detection
Search for Life Instrument Study Identifying Scientific Knowledge and Technology Gapshttps://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pesto-astrobio-report-final-draft.pdf?emrc=eaa475
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Framework For Evaluating Biosignature Potential Against The Abiotic Baseline On Ocean Worlds
Ocean worlds are considered as targets for life detection missions because they meet several key requirements for habitability. However, identifying potential life on other worlds requires observing clear and unambiguous […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Mars, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
The Maintenance Of Ambiguity In Martian Exobiology
How do scientists maintain their research programs in the face of not finding anything? Continual failure to produce results can result in declining support, scientific controversy and credibility challenges.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release, Sample Return
Caves On Earth As Proxies For Martian Subsurface Environments
On planet Earth, the inner part of cave systems represents an extreme and isolated environment, characterized by relatively stable microclimatic conditions, nutrient limitation and protection from external stressors such as […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Biosignatures & Paleobiology, NASA Astrobiology Program, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
Responsible Discovery in Astrobiology: Lessons from Four Controversial Claims
This paper examines four case studies of life-detection claims in astrobiology, covering both biosignatures and technosignatures: the 1877 “canals” on Mars, the 1976 Mars Viking landers experiments, the 2020 phosphine […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrobiology (general), Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, NASA Astrobiology Program, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: The Design of a Bioinspired Integrated Total Habitability Instrument for Planetary Exploration: A Review of Potential Sensing Technologies
One key objective of astrobiology is to investigate and discover if other planetary bodies are habitable.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Life Detection Knowledge Base: A Community Tool for Knowledge Management and Representation
The Life Detection Knowledge Base (LDKB; https://lifedetectionforum.com/ldkb) is a community-owned web resource that is designed to facilitate the infusion of astrobiology knowledge and expertise into the conceptualization and design of […]