photonics Archives - Astrobiology

Researchers have created two types of synthetic protocells that can communicate with each other. (Image created with DALL-E) -- University of Basel

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Synthetic Cells Emulate Natural Cellular Communication

by Keith CowingNovember 13, 2024November 13, 2024

A research team from the University of Basel has succeeded in synthesizing simple, environmentally sensitive cells complete with artificial organelles. For the first time, the researchers have also been able […]

Memory Crystal With Human Genome -- University of Southampton

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Intelligence & Language, Interstellar, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Panspermia, Press Release, Science Fiction, SETI & Technosignatures

The Human Genome Has Been Stored On An Everlasting Memory Crystal

by Keith CowingSeptember 20, 2024September 20, 2024

University of Southampton scientists have stored the full human genome on a 5D memory crystal – a revolutionary data storage format that can survive for billions of years. The team […]

Chip scale, ultrafast mode-locked laser based on nanophotonic lithium niobate. CREDIT Alireza Marandi

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: High-performance Ultrafast Lasers That Fit On A Fingertip

by Keith CowingNovember 10, 2023November 10, 2023

Editor’s note: as we develop the instruments that Away Teams use on Astrobiology expeditions, compactness and functionality will be of paramount importance. Having exceptionally compact imaging systems such as this […]

5400+ confirmed exoplanets as of the 11th of August 2023 on a Jupiter mass vs orbital period plot. The Earth is shown on the plot to indicate where an Earth-like planet around a sun-like star would appear. The blue region highlights the terrestrial regime. Very few Earth mass/size planets have been detected thus far. Only a handful are in the habitable zone of their host star. Data taken from exoplanetsarchive.ipac.caltech.edu -- astro-ph.IM

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

The Path To Detecting Extraterrestrial Life With Astrophotonics

by Keith CowingOctober 9, 2023October 9, 2023

Astrophysical research into exoplanets has delivered thousands of confirmed planets orbiting distant stars. These planets span a wide ranges of size and composition, with diversity also being the hallmark of […]

StarLightSimulator

Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Star Light Simulator Illuminates The Search For Life Around The Milky Way’s Most Common Stars

by Keith CowingSeptember 20, 2022December 13, 2022

Italian researchers have demonstrated experimentally for the first time that microorganisms can photosynthesise using the infrared-dominated light emitted by the most common type of star in the Milky Way.