The delivery of water to the inner Solar System rocky planets, including Earth, remains debated, as standard models assume that they formed from dry grains, inside the snowline of the […]
Water
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The Master Molecule That Built Biology: How Water Shaped The Chemistry Of Life
The deep entanglement of biomolecular structure and function with aqueous systems supports the view that water actively sculpted both molecules and processes during the origins of life and continues to […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Exploration Gear & Tech, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
As Above, Not So Below: Ion Fractionation In Planetary Analog Ices
The geophysical evolution and astrobiological potential of ocean worlds are indelibly linked to the chemical compositions of their oceans and ice shells.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Planets Need More Water To Support Life Than Scientists Previously Thought
Unfortunately for science fiction fans, desert worlds outside our solar system are unlikely to host life, according to new research from University of Washington. Scientists show that an Earth-sized planet […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biophysics, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Cluster Anions of Hydrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: “Magic” Water Tetramer
The PAH-water (PAH = polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) interactions occur in interstellar ice grains and in atmospheres of planets and can serve as models for the interaction between water and graphite-like […]
![[L] The detrended and phase-folded RV time series of GJ 1132 b (top) and GJ 1132 c (bottom). Different draws of the Keplerian models from our posterior are superimposed in black. The different colored markers correspond to different RV time series. Binned data points are shown as red squares. [R] Phase-folded and detrended RV time series of LTT 3780 b (top) and LTT 3780 c (bottom). The best-fit Keplerian model is superimposed in black. The different colors and markers correspond to different RV time series. Binned data points are shown as red squares. -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Super-Earth-masses.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Super-Earth Masses And Stellar Abundances From NIRPS Reveal Tentative Evidence For Water-rich Formation Around M Dwarfs
Tracing the compositional link between terrestrial super-Earths and their host stars provides clues to their dominant formation pathway. By constraining the stellar abundances of refractory elements, we can predict the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Unique Water Release Mechanism Uncovered In Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
A research team from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has conducted high-sensitivity radio observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using the Tianma Telescope, […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Hydrogen Atmosphere Could Keep Exomoons Habitable For Billions Of Years
Liquid water is considered essential for life. Surprisingly, however, stable conditions that are conducive to life could exist far from any sun.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Direct View of the Chemical Properties of Water from Another Planetary System: Water D/H in 3I/ATLAS
All detected water reservoirs in the solar system exhibit a deuterium enrichment that links back to the physical environment at the time of stellar birth.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Meteorites & Asteroids, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report
Hydration Features on Near-Earth Objects: Integrating New Data with Prior Results
Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are excellent laboratories for testing processes that affect airless bodies, as well as informing us about solar system history.