[Ohio State] Although they are some of the most widespread substances on Earth, not much is known about eumelanin, or natural organic matter (NOM) — a dark-colored substance formed by […]
Ohio State University
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations
Space Station Study Models How Dust And Humidity Create Mold Problems For Astronauts
Mold can survive the harshest of environments, so to stop harmful spores from growing on future space stations, a new study suggests a novel way to prevent its spread.
![Super-Earth occurrence for Kepler (black circles) and K2 (gray circles), TESS data assuming all candidates are real (teal square), and 99.7% confidence intervals to calculate the upper limits for TESS data assuming all candidates are false positives (teal triangles) as a function of metallicity. The [−0.25, −0.5] bin occurrence rates are offset horizontally for visual clarity. The best-fit power-law trend line for the Kepler and K2 data (yellow) is displayed and extrapolated to [Fe/H] = −0.75 showing the 1σ uncertainties (Zink et al. 2023). We show the combined best-fit exponential trend line for Kepler, K2, and TESS (purple; Equation (6)) including the 1σ uncertainties. Each metallicity bin is indicated by gray dashed lines. Within the [−0.75, −1] bin, there is insufficient data to further constrain the super-Earth occurrence rate as a function of metallicity (denoted by the gray hatched region). -- The Astronomical Journal](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Formation-Of-Super-Earths-Proven.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
Formation Of Super-Earths Proven To Be Limited Near Metal-poor Stars
In a new study, astronomers report novel evidence regarding the limits of planet formation, finding that after a certain point, planets larger than Earth have difficulty forming near low-metallicity stars.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Viral Secrets From Glacial Ice Reveal Climate Adaptations
Researchers at The Ohio State University have made a significant discovery in understanding how viruses preserved in glacial ice have adapted to Earth’s climatic changes.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Locked In A Glacier, Viruses Adapted To Survive Extreme Weather
For decades, the Guliya Glacier, located above 20,000 feet in the far northwestern Tibetan Plateau, has been one of the richest archives available to scientists to investigate large-scale paleoclimate shifts. […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Microbial Viruses Act As Secret Drivers Of Planetary Climate Change
In a new study, scientists have discovered that viruses that infect microbes contribute to climate change by playing a key role in cycling methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Proxima Centauri
Biosignatures: Looking For Signs Of Life Among Exoplanet Atmospheres
The next generation of advanced telescopes could sharpen the hunt for potential extraterrestrial life by closely scrutinizing the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets, new research suggests.
![(A) The Marsili Basin lies in ~3000 m water depth in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Ocean Drilling Program Leg 107 Sites 650 and 651 marked as red circles. Red box shows map in (B). Campi Flegrei (CF) fields (source of 39.8 ka Campanian Ignimbrite and 14.9 ka Neapolitan Yellow Tuff) shown with nearby submarine canyons (Dohrm [DC] and Magnaghi [MC]) as yellow lines. Ve—Vesuvius; SC—Stromboli Canyon. (B) CHIRP subbottom profiles shown as white dashed lines. Continuous white lines involved the acquisition of additional airgun seismic data. Bathymetry is a merged dataset of a 40-m grid CHIANTI multibeam bathymetry together with EMODNET bathymetry (EMODnet Bathymetry Consortium, 2020). Contour interval is 1000 meters. Figure 2 is E-W profile through Site 650. -- Geology](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Newstudyreveals.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Extinction events, Press Release
New Study Reveals Evidence Of Recurring Ancient Supereruption
Researchers have discovered a series of large undersea sediment deposits in a region near Italy that were likely formed by an ancient volcanic supereruption.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics, TRAPPIST-1
Using Cosmic Weather To Study Which Worlds Could Support Life
As the next generation of giant, high-powered observatories begin to come online, a new study suggests that their instruments may offer scientists an unparalleled opportunity to discern what weather may […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Chemists Create Artificial Protein That Peers Into Earth's Chemical Past
Scientists have developed an artificial protein that could offer new insights into chemical evolution on early Earth. All cells need energy to survive, but because the kinds of chemicals available […]