volcano Archives

Extended Data Fig. 5. Heat maps showing major metabolic potential functions and KEGG pathways for individual Halobacteria MAGs assembled from north Danakil hypersaline ecosystems. a, Presence (blue)-absence (white) of metabolic functions as inferred by Metabolic G in Danakil MAGs and representative GTDB genomes of Halobacteria. b, Modules of KEGG pathways identified in Halobacteria MAGs and GTDB reference genomes (outgroup). The blue color intensity indicates the completeness of the respective pathway (intense, complete). The names of our MAGs are highlighted in red. Aa, amino acid. -- biorxiv.org

Analog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

Extremely Acidic Proteomes And Metabolic Flexibility In Bacteria And Highly Diversified Archaea Thriving In Geothermal Chaotropic Brines

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2024November 21, 2025

Few described archaeal, and fewer bacterial, lineages thrive at salt-saturating conditions, such as solar saltern crystallizers (salinity above 30%-w/v).

A giant volcano hiding in plain sight in one of Mars’ most iconic regions. The newly discovered giant volcano on Mars is located just south of the planet’s equator, in Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus, west of Valles Marineris, the planet’s vast canyon system. The volcano sits on the eastern edge of a broad regional topographic rise called Tharsis, home to three other well-known giant volcanoes: Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Arsia Mons. Although more eroded and less high than these giants, the newly discovered volcano rivals the others in diameter, which is about 450 km (280 miles) (red dashed circle in this picture). Possible buried glacier ice is also reported under a relatively recent volcanic deposit within the perimeter of the eroded volcano, making the area attractive for the search for life and future robotic and human exploration. (Credit: Background image: NASA/USGS Mars globe. Geologic interpretation and annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024).

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release

Giant Volcano Discovered On Mars

by Keith CowingMarch 13, 2024March 13, 2024

A deeply eroded giant volcano, active from ancient through recent times and with possible remnants of glacier ice near its base, had been hiding near Mars’ equator in plain sight. […]

The Lake Rotorua Map -- GNS Science, Te Pū Ao

Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

New Maps Reveal Lake Rotorua’s Hidden Depths And Hydrothermal Systems

by Keith CowingFebruary 26, 2024February 25, 2024

Following on from the Lake Rotomahana (2020), Lake Rotoiti (2021), and Lake Tarawera (2022) map releases, this new addition has redefined our understanding of the region’s hidden depths.

Jared Ralleta and Alice Baldridge at work in Kilbourne Hole, Potrillo Volcanic Field. -- NASA Note: Jared is using a Malvern Panalytical ASD FieldSpec 4 Hi-Res: High Resolution Spectroradiometer with a contact probe.

Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

NASA Goddard Geochemistry Group Away Team Practices Tricorder Use On Volcanic Deposits

by Keith CowingFebruary 20, 2024February 20, 2024

Location: Kilbourne Hole, Potrillo Volcanic Field, New Mexico

Topographic data are draped over infrared image data showing complex tectonic structures and volcanic deposits in the Eridania region of Mars. Warm colours are higher elevation. CREDIT NASA/Mars Odyssey/HRSC

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Mars, Press Release

Diverse Ancient Volcanoes On Mars May Hold Clues To Pre-plate Tectonic Activity On Earth

by Keith CowingFebruary 16, 2024February 16, 2024

Volcanoes are a common feature on the surfaces of solid planets within the solar system, resulting from magmatic activity occurring within the planetary crust. On Earth, volcanism is driven primarily […]

Glowing ʻaʻā flow front advancing over pāhoehoe on the coastal plain of Kīlauea in Hawaii, United States

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Extinction events, Impact events, Press Release

More Than A Meteorite: New Clues About The Demise Of Dinosaurs

by Keith CowingFebruary 12, 2024February 11, 2024

What wiped out the dinosaurs? A meteorite plummeting to Earth is only part of the story, a new study suggests. Climate change triggered by massive volcanic eruptions may have ultimately […]

Jupiter's moon Io, its night side illuminated by reflected sunlight from Jupiter, or "Jupitershine." Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Image processing by Emma Wälimäki © CC BY

Imaging & Spectroscopy, Io, Jupiter, Missions & Hardware, Status Report

Volcano World Io As Seen By Juno

by Keith CowingFebruary 9, 2024February 9, 2024

NASA’s Juno spacecraft just made the closest flybys of Jupiter’s moon Io that any spacecraft has carried out in more than 20 years. An instrument on this spacecraft called “JunoCam” […]

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Venus

ESA Approves EnVision Mission To Venus – The Closest Planet To Earth

by Keith CowingJanuary 30, 2024January 30, 2024

ESA’s next mission to Venus was officially ‘adopted’ today by the Agency’s Science Programme Committee. EnVision will study Venus from its inner core to its outer atmosphere, giving important new […]

Aaron Curtis, a post-doctoral scholar at JPL, measures gases inside an ice cave. Carbon dioxide levels can be especially high inside the caves, so gas monitors are necessary for safety. Credit: Dylan Taylor larger image

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs

Antarctic Away Team Mission: Ice Caves Near An Active Volcano In Antarctica

by Keith CowingDecember 13, 2023December 13, 2023

In 2017 a JPL robotics researcher tested new technologies in ice caves near an active volcano in Antarctica. Mt. Erebus is at the end of our world — and offers […]

The colorful Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the park’s largest and the third-largest spring in the world. Research by UW Professor Ken Sims and colleagues has provided new insights into Yellowstone’s hydrothermal system. -- U.S. Geological Survey Photo Larger image

Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Yellowstone Hydrothermal System Examined In Unprecedented Detail

by Keith CowingDecember 9, 2023December 9, 2023

University of Wyoming Department of Geology and Geophysics Professor Ken Sims made his mark as a National Geographic Explorer conducting research in some of the world’s most extreme locations, from […]

volcano

Extremely Acidic Proteomes And Metabolic Flexibility In Bacteria And Highly Diversified Archaea Thriving In Geothermal Chaotropic Brines

Giant Volcano Discovered On Mars

New Maps Reveal Lake Rotorua’s Hidden Depths And Hydrothermal Systems

NASA Goddard Geochemistry Group Away Team Practices Tricorder Use On Volcanic Deposits

Diverse Ancient Volcanoes On Mars May Hold Clues To Pre-plate Tectonic Activity On Earth

More Than A Meteorite: New Clues About The Demise Of Dinosaurs

Volcano World Io As Seen By Juno

ESA Approves EnVision Mission To Venus – The Closest Planet To Earth

Antarctic Away Team Mission: Ice Caves Near An Active Volcano In Antarctica

Yellowstone Hydrothermal System Examined In Unprecedented Detail

How High-pressure Ices On Large Ocean Worlds Can Support Habitability: The Compatibility Of Amino Acids Into Ice VI And VII

Ice Drives The Emergence Of Functional Protocells

Chemical Abundance Patterns at z=1-7: Carbon, Nitrogen, Neon, Sulphur, and Argon Abundances From JWST Spectroscopy

Optimization of Petal-Shaped Occulters for Exo-Earth Observation

Topographically Forced Stationary Waves Can Explain The Near-Surface Zonal Winds Observed By Huygens On Titan