volcano Archives

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return

Extreme Environment of Danakil Depression Sheds Light on Mars, Titan

by Keith CowingApril 18, 2018November 21, 2025

The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is a spectacular, hostile environment that may resemble conditions encountered on Mars and Titan — as well as in sites containing nuclear waste. From 20 […]

Habitable Zones, Press Release

Stellar Cosmic Rays in a Habitable Zone

by Keith CowingMay 2, 2017

According to recent observations relative number of flare stars does not change very much from cool dwarfs to hot A stars. Flare energies are strongly correlated with stellar luminosity and […]

Astrogeology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Press Release

Active Cryovolcanism on Europa?

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2017March 25, 2023

Evidence for plumes of water on Europa has previously been found using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) using two different observing techniques. Roth et al. (2014) found line emission from […]

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Volcanic Hydrogen Spurs Chances of Finding Exoplanet Life

by Keith CowingMarch 2, 2017

Hunting for habitable exoplanets now may be easier: Cornell University astronomers report that hydrogen pouring from volcanic sources on planets throughout the universe could improve the chances of locating life […]

Analog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Sample Return

Hydrothermal Systems Show Spectrum of Extreme Life on Earth

by Keith CowingApril 26, 2016November 21, 2025

The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. Hydrothermal system at the Danakil Depression. The yellow deposits are a variety of sulphates and the […]

Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones

Atmospheric Signs of Volcanic Activity Could Aid Search for Life

by Keith CowingJune 8, 2015

Planets with volcanic activity are considered better candidates for life than worlds without such heated internal goings-on. Now, graduate students at the University of Washington have found a way to […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release

Transient Sulfate Aerosols as a Signature of Exoplanet Volcanism

by Keith CowingApril 28, 2015

Geological activity is thought to be important for the origin of life and for maintaining planetary habitability. We show that transient sulfate aerosols could be a signature of exoplanet volcanism, […]

Fossils & Paleontology, Origin & Evolution of Life

How Some of Earth's Earliest Animals Lived and Died

by Keith CowingAugust 11, 2014

New three-dimensional reconstructions show how some of the earliest animals on Earth developed, and provide some answers as to why they went extinct. A bizarre group of uniquely shaped organisms […]

Habitable Zones, Mars

A Habitable Environment on Martian Volcano?

by Keith CowingMay 27, 2014

Heat from a volcano erupting beneath an immense glacier would have created large lakes of liquid water on Mars in the relatively recent past. And where there’s water, there is […]