[University Of Arizona]. A Jupiter-sized world just 7.5 light-years away is cloudy, chemically complex, and, it turns out, more like home than anyone expected.
Phosphine
![The top panel shows comparisons of the observed spectrum of JADES-GS-BD-11 (black with grey 1σ error bars) and the median retrieved spectrum for both the PH3 and non-PH3 petitRADTRANS (red and green, respectively, with 1σ central credible intervals shaded around the median). The bottom panel shows the difference between the retrieved and observed spectra, divided by the observed uncertainty. The two retrieved median spectra are generally within 1σ of each other everywhere except at 4.3 µm (the Q-branch of the PH3 feature).-- [astro-ph.SR]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JWSTNIRSpec.png?resize=1200%2C717&ssl=1)
Posted inBrown Dwarfs
JWST/NIRSpec Spectra for Three Ultracool Brown Dwarfs Detected in Extragalactic Surveys: Further Evidence for Phosphine Absorption
[astro-ph.SR] We present JWST NIRSpec prism spectra for three ultracool brown dwarfs discovered in extragalactic survey data, two from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), and one from Public […]
![This study reports the first formation of (E)-phosphinimine (HPNH, X1A′) – the simplest iminophosphane – in low-temperature interstellar model ices composed of phosphine (PH3) and ammonia (NH3) exposed to galactic cosmic ray proxies. -- [Chemical Science]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Non-equilibrium.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry
Non-equilibrium Preparation Of (E)-phosphinimine (HPNH, X1A′) – A Precursor To Prebiotic Phosphorylating Agents
[Chemical Science] Phosphorus–nitrogen compounds play crucial roles as intermediates in aza-Wittig reactions and serve as key precursors to prebiotic phosphorylating agents such as amidophosphonates linked to the Origins of Life.
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 inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Status Report
Pseudo-panspermia of Phosphorus Species on the Early Earth
In the Earth system, Phosphorus (P) does not form a single phase, but mostly combines into compounds forming multiple minerals. Phosphate (P+5) is the majority P species in the Earth’s […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Brown Dwarfs, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Venus
Detection of Phosphine In A Brown Dwarf Atmosphere Raises More Questions
Phosphorus is one of six key elements necessary for life on Earth. When combined with hydrogen, phosphorus forms the molecule phosphine (PH3), an explosive, highly toxic gas. Found in the […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Venus
The Venus Explorer for Reduced Vapours in the Environment (VERVE)
The answer to whether tiny bacterial lifeforms really do exist in the clouds of Venus could be revealed once-and-for-all by a UK-backed mission.
![Comparison of Venus and Earth atmospheric profiles (left) and depth-equivalent Earth altitude versus Venus altitude (right). Data of Venus atmosphere taken from [21]; Earth atmosphere represented with Linsley’s model [17, 22]. The vertical green dashed lines at the left panel indicate the extremes of the “Habitable Zone” (HZ) of reference [23] (venusian altitudes in the range 42.8 km to 62.2 km). -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/The-Venusian-Chronicles.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Venus
The Venusian Chronicles
Venus’ atmosphere — specifically its clouds buoyed up 40 to 60 km above the surface — has long been suspected to encompass a biosphere where Earth-like living organisms could grow […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Venus
Venus Phosphine: Updates and Lessons Learned
The discovery of phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere provides lessons for the search for life. The detection has survived all challenges and has acquired independent support from archival data from PVP.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Photochemical PHO Network For Hydrogen-dominated Exoplanet Atmospheres
Due to the detection of phosphine PH3 in the Solar System gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, PH3 has long been suggested to be detectable in exosolar substellar atmospheres too. However, […]