Yellowstone Archives - Astrobiology

Hydrothermal deposits on Mars.

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Was There Ever A Yellowstone On Mars?

by Keith CowingNovember 26, 2025November 26, 2025

Yellowstone is not just a fantastic natural laboratory for Earth-based studies. A better understanding of hydrothermal activity in the first National Park can also provide clues about what Mars might […]

One of the locations of all geothermal sites sampled (unnamed) -- Frontiers in Microbiology via PubMed

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return, Status Report

Comparing Microbial Populations From Diverse Hydrothermal Features In Yellowstone National Park

by Keith CowingDecember 9, 2024December 9, 2024

Geothermal features, such as hot springs and mud volcanoes, host diverse microbial life, including many extremophile organisms. The physicochemical parameters of the geothermal feature, such as temperature, pH, and heavy […]

On the hunt for methanogenic microbes outside the Euryarchaeota, researchers started by collecting samples from Yellowstone National Park — also home to the Imperial Geyser pictured here. Image: Roland Hatzenpichler

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Joint Genome Institute (JGI)-Enabled Research Demonstrates The Existence Of New Methane Makers

by Keith CowingSeptember 30, 2024September 29, 2024

Atmospheric levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, regulate Earth’s climate. Most methane is produced in environments without oxygen through a process called methanogenesis. Methanogenic microorganisms therefore play a critical […]

WorldView-2 natural-color satellite image from December 9, 2017, showing thermal areas as snow-free zones on the north side of Mallard Lake resurgent dome in Yellowstone National Park. (Thanks to the NEXTVIEW End User License Agreement between Maxar (formerly DigitalGlobe, Inc.) and the US Government for providing access to these high-resolution commercial satellite data to support Earth science research and applications.) Larger image

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Planetary Astrobiology Surveys: Mapping Hydrothermal Areas From Orbit

by Keith CowingNovember 27, 2023November 27, 2023

Using high-resolution commercial satellite images to help map and monitor Yellowstone’s Thermal Areas

Grand Prismatic Spring is one of more than 10,000 thermal features in Yellowstone. Research on heat-resistant microbes in the park’s thermal areas has led to medical, forensic, and commercial uses.

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Press Release

How Geobiological Feedback Makes Some Yellowstone Hydrothermal Pools Acidic

by Keith CowingMay 24, 2023May 25, 2023

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Ken Sims, Professor of Geology and Geophysics, and […]