Astrobiology
Articles tagged with Astrobiology
SETI Institute to honor Dr. Matthew Tiscareno with 2026 Carl Sagan Center Director’s Award
New method sharpens the search for alien biology
Researchers found amino acids are consistently more diverse and evenly distributed in biological samples than abiotic ones, while fatty acids show the opposite pattern. This fundamental principle of life may be detectable in data collected by space missions.
SETI Institute launches Discovery and Futures Lab to explore the human dimensions of life beyond earth
The SETI Institute's new initiative explores the global scientific, philosophical, and societal implications of discovering life beyond Earth, connecting experts in various fields. The Discovery and Futures Lab aims to anticipate and guide humanity's responses to this discovery.
Mars rover detects never-before-seen organic compounds in new experiment
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered diverse organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals that could be signs of ancient life. The findings suggest the Martian surface can preserve molecules that could serve as building blocks for life.
A new way to detect life beyond Earth without knowing what life looks like
Researchers propose an agnostic biosignature that detects life on a population level by analyzing patterns of planetary traits and spatial relationships. This method prioritizes reliability over completeness, minimizing false positives even if it misses some life-bearing planets.
SETI Institute names Lori Marino as 2026 Drake Award recipient
Dr. Lori Marino receives the 2026 Drake Award for her groundbreaking work on intelligence evolution, recognizing her contributions to understanding complex life forms on Earth and beyond. Her research focuses on brain evolution, cognition, and self-awareness in various species.
Asteroid Bennu's rugged surface baffled NASA. We finally know why
The OSIRIS-REx mission has found that asteroid Bennu's boulders are cracked, not porous as initially thought. This discovery transforms our understanding of how to interpret an asteroid's thermal properties from Earth-based observations.
Life forms can planet hop on asteroid debris – and survive
A Johns Hopkins University study finds that tiny life forms can survive extreme pressure comparable to an ejection from Mars after an asteroid hit, and may potentially move between planets. The discovery raises implications for planetary protection and space missions.
Microbe survives the pressures of impact-induced ejection from Mars
A microbe survived extreme pressures generated by a simulated Mars impact, suggesting it could withstand launch across space after major impacts. The hardy extremophile prioritized cellular repair and maintained structure in its cell envelope, enabling 60% survival of microbes.
Resurrected ancient enzyme offers new window into early Earth and the search for life beyond it
Researchers at UW-Madison have resurrected a 3.2-billion-year-old nitrogenase enzyme to improve our understanding of the origins of life on Earth and potentially recognize signs of life elsewhere.
Rethinking where life could exist beyond earth
Astronomers may need to look beyond the traditional habitable zone for liquid water and potentially life-friendly conditions. A new study suggests that tidally locked worlds, even those orbiting closer to cool M- and K-dwarf stars than previously thought, could sustain liquid water on their night side.
How early cell membranes may have shaped the origins of life
A new study suggests that physical properties guided life before genes did. Phospholipids with more unsaturated bonds were more likely to merge and grow under freeze-thaw cycles.
New research reveals that complex building blocks of life form spontaneously in space
Researchers at Aarhus University have demonstrated that protein building blocks essential for life as we know it form readily in space. Peptides, which bond amino acids together, were found to react with each other to form proteins on dust particles.
SETI Institute opens call for nominations for the 2026 Tarter Award
The SETI Institute is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Tarter Award, recognizing individuals who significantly advance humanity's search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence. The award comes with a $100,000 prize and honors innovative projects across science, technology, education, art, philosophy, law, and ethics.
Saturn’s biggest moon might not have an ocean after all
Researchers reanalyze Cassini mission data to find that Titan's interior is more icy and slushy than previously thought, with implications for the search for life on Titan. The new findings suggest a slushy layer instead of an ocean, which could facilitate the growth of simple organisms.
First discoveries from new Subaru Telescope program
The Subaru Telescope's OASIS program has discovered a massive planet and a brown dwarf orbiting distant stars. These discoveries enable the upcoming Roman Space Telescope to test critical technologies for imaging Earth-like planets.
Ancient chemical clues reveal Earth’s earliest life 3.3 billion years ago
A new study reveals fresh chemical evidence of life in rocks over 3.3 billion years old, with molecular traces showing oxygen-producing photosynthesis emerged nearly a billion years earlier than thought. The approach uses machine learning to recognize subtle molecular fingerprints left behind by living organisms.
Life in Space: A Beginner’s Guide to Life in the Universe
Life in Space bridges astrophysics and biology to explore conditions for life on Earth and beyond. The book offers a comprehensive view of astrobiology, tracing how astronomical and biological forces intersect to create and sustain life.
Can yeast survive on Mars?
Researchers found yeast cells can withstand shock waves and toxic perchlorate salts, simulating Martian conditions. The yeast's ability to produce ribonucleoprotein condensates helps protect against stress, making it a model for astrobiology research and potential life support systems in space.
Newly discovered ‘super-Earth’ offers prime target in search for alien life
A massive exoplanet dubbed 'super-Earth' has been discovered orbiting a nearby dwarf star, offering new hope in the hunt for other worlds that could harbor life. The exoplanet, GJ 251 c, is approximately four times as massive as Earth and likely to be rocky.
Scientists discover building blocks of life in ice around a forming star in neighboring galaxy
Astronomers detected complex organic molecules in ices outside the Milky Way for the first time, finding five different carbon-based compounds, including methanol and acetic acid. This discovery sheds light on how chemical ingredients for life spread throughout the cosmos.
Earth’s oxygen boom: a fresh perspective for a billion-year-old problem
Researchers propose a new model for Earth's oxygenation, finding that high nickel and urea concentrations kept cyanobacterial blooms rare. As these compounds became available at lower levels, they drove the expansion of cyanobacteria, leading to long-term oxygen release and the Great Oxidation Event.
Hot springs in Japan give insight into ancient microbial life on Earth
A recent study from Japan explores ancient microbial life on Earth by analyzing iron-rich hot springs that mimic the chemistry of early oceans. Microaerophilic iron-oxidising bacteria were found to be dominant, using ferrous iron as an energy source before photosynthesis became dominant.
SwRI’s Glein selected to give AGU Carl Sagan Lecture
Dr. Glein will discuss Enceladus' deep ocean beneath its icy surface, which contains organic molecules and nutrients needed for life. The Saturn moon's ocean erupts into space, forming a towering plume with constant activity, making it a promising place for life.
Can microbes be the good guys? New study reveals Hollywood’s blind spot
A new review in Microbial Biotechnology highlights microbes as allies in various industries, from food fermentation to biofuels. Films such as French Kiss and The Martian showcase microbes as positive forces, challenging the traditional villain stereotype.
How the stuff of life could be brought to Europe’s Mars rover by rockfalls and ancient floods
Two studies reveal that natural processes can bring organic-rich materials to the Mars rover, increasing its diversity of samples. Rockfalls in Oxia Planum may have originated from elsewhere on Mars and were deposited through a series of floods over 3.5 billion years ago.
Planets without plate tectonics and too little carbon dioxide could mean that technological alien life is rare
Planets with 10% carbon dioxide could maintain a biosphere for 4.2 billion years, while those with 1% carbon dioxide last only 3.1 billion years. These conditions make the existence of technological alien life unlikely, with estimated lifetimes ranging from 280,000 to millions of years.
'Potential biosignatures' found in ancient Mars lake
A new study suggests that ancient Martian rocks contain minerals and organic matter indicative of a habitable environment and potential biological processes. The discovery was made in the Jezero Crater's Bright Angel formation, which is considered a prime target in the search for signs of past life.
Hungry star is eating its cosmic twin at rate never seen before
Astronomers discovered a greedy white dwarf star consuming its closest celestial companion at an unprecedented rate. The study found that the super-dense white dwarf is burning brightly due to the mass transfer between the two stars, potentially leading to a massive explosion visible from Earth.
Study questions ocean origin of organics in Enceladus’s plumes
New research questions the origin of organic molecules in Enceladus's plumes, suggesting they could be formed by radiation on Saturn's surface rather than originating from the sub-surface ocean. This challenges astrobiologists' assumptions about the moon's habitability.
New model aims to demystify ‘steam worlds’ beyond our solar system
Astrobiologists have developed a new model to characterize water-rich sub-Neptunes, which are planets with sizes and masses between those of Earth and Neptune. This model accounts for the complex behavior of supercritical water and its implications for planetary formation and potential habitability.
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Complex organic molecules, precursors to life's building blocks, have been found in a planet-forming disc around the outbursting protostar V883 Orionis. This discovery supports the idea that life's seeds are assembled in space and are widespread.
SwRI experiments may explain mysterious distribution of hydrogen peroxide on Europa
Scientists at SwRI conducted lab experiments to explain the mysterious distribution of hydrogen peroxide on Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The research found that trace amounts of CO2 in water ice can enhance hydrogen peroxide production, shedding light on the moon's habitability and chemical cycles.
Answers to existence of alien life might be found in Earth’s deep-sea volcanoes
NASA microbiologist James Holden is searching for signs of microbial life in Earth's deep-sea volcanoes, which he believes could be similar to those on Jupiter's moon Europa. The hydrothermal vents, where these microbes thrive, provide a unique environment that may support alien life.
Desert lichen offers new evidence for the possibility of life on other planets
A study found that lichen from the Mojave Desert can survive and replicate under extreme solar radiation, previously considered lethal. The discovery suggests that photosynthetic life may be possible on planets exposed to intense UV-C rays, offering new hope for the search of extraterrestrial life.
Sun’s fury may change the weather on distant worlds — and maybe even ours
A new study reveals a connection between solar flares and short-term weather patterns on exoplanets. The research found that sudden outbursts of radiation from stars can cause measurable changes in a planet's climate within days.
SwRI scientists contribute to uncovering ongoing surface modification on Jupiter’s moon Europa
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests that Europa's icy surface is constantly changing due to interactions with charged particles. Laboratory experiments also found evidence of crystalline ice beneath the amorphous ice layer, indicating a possible liquid ocean beneath the surface.
Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, study finds
A recent study suggests that Saturn's moon Titan could support simple, microscopic life forms due to its abundant organic content. However, the amount of biomass that can exist in this environment is likely to be extremely limited, possibly only a few pounds.
How calcium may have unlocked the origins of life’s molecular asymmetry
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo hints that calcium ions played a crucial role in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. The team discovered that calcium dramatically alters how tartaric acid molecules link together, favoring homochiral polymers and potentially influencing the emergence of life.
Organic molecules of unprecedented size discovered on Mars
Researchers have detected unprecedentedly large organic molecules on Mars, containing up to 12 consecutive carbon atoms. These findings provide valuable insights into the planet's potential for life and pave the way for future interplanetary science missions.
Signs of alien life may be hiding in these gases
Researchers identify methyl halides as a potential sign of microbial life on Hycean planets with thick hydrogen atmospheres. The gas could accumulate in exoplanet atmospheres and be detectable from light-years away, offering an optimal strategy for the search for extraterrestrial life.
SwRI receives $3 million NASA astrobiology grant to study microbial life in Alaska’s arctic sand dunes
The ARRAKIS project team aims to understand how microbial life thrives in extreme environments by studying the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes in Alaska. Researchers will use Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify and quantify organic compounds and measure ATP and total DNA.
The chances of anything coming from Mars
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy method to detect microbial cells in ancient rocks, analogous to those found on Mars. The study strengthens Mars sample return protocols by providing a reliable way to assess the presence or absence of life in samples.
SETI Institute names first Frank Drake Postdoctoral Fellow
The SETI Institute has awarded its first Frank Drake Postdoctoral Fellowship to Dr. Anastasia Yanchilina, who will focus on distinguishing biosignatures from false positives across space and time. Her research aims to refine biosignature detection techniques using lab experiments and studying Earth's extreme environments.
How life's building blocks took shape on early Earth: the limits of membraneless polyester protocell formation
A recent study found that polyester microdroplets can form in salt-rich environments, at low alpha-hydroxy acid concentrations, and in small reaction volumes. This expands on previous research and suggests that polyester protocells were likely more common on early Earth than previously thought.
Roving the red planet: New paper documents first Mars mission soil samples
Scientists have retrieved handpicked samples from Mars, including rock cores and fragmented rocks, for the first time in history. The samples will help learn more about Mars' past life, climate, and geology, as well as provide insights into Earth's surface.
Dust from asteroid Bennu shows: Building blocks of life and possible habitats were widespread in our solar system
The study analyzed material from asteroid Bennu, finding evidence of building blocks of life, water, and energy. The team also discovered evaporites, which have been found on Earth in dried-out salt lakes, providing insights into the asteroid's formation.
Life’s building blocks in Bennu samples
The OSIRIS-REx mission returned a large sample from asteroid Bennu, which Japanese collaborators detected includes all five nucleobases required for life. The analysis revealed high concentrations of ammonia and nitrogen-rich organic matter.
SETI Forward recognizes tomorrow’s cosmic pioneers
The SETI Institute's 2024 Forward Award recipients, Gabriella Rizzo and Pritvik Sinhadc, conducted innovative research on extremophiles in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and gravitational wave signals. Their work has the potential to reveal new life forms and technosignatures, pushing humanity's understanding of the universe and our place...
Living in the deep, dark, slow lane: Insights from the first global appraisal of microbiomes in earth’s subsurface environments
A global study on microbiomes in subsurface environments reveals astonishingly high microbial diversity, rivaling that at the surface. The study, led by Emil Ruff, also compares marine and terrestrial microbiomes, finding great differences in composition but similar levels of diversity.
Astronomers close to solving mystery of how universe’s giant galaxies formed
Scientists have discovered birth sites of gigantic elliptical galaxies, suggesting large gas flows and galaxy collisions created these ancient systems. The research, published in Nature, may finally unravel the enigma of how these giant galaxies formed.
NASA: Mystery of life’s handedness deepens
A NASA-funded discovery reveals that RNA can produce both left- and right-handed proteins, challenging the notion that life initially favored one over the other. This finding deepens the mystery of life's handedness and suggests that homochirality may have emerged through later evolutionary pressures.
Rocky planets orbiting small stars could have stable atmospheres needed to support life
A University of Washington-led study suggests that rocky planets orbiting M-dwarf stars can maintain stable atmospheres over time, enhancing the chances of supporting life. The James Webb Space Telescope has observed hotter planets without significant atmospheres, but temperate planets in the 'Goldilocks zone' may have stable atmospheres.
Are nearby planets sending radio signals to each other?
Scientists at Penn State and SETI Institute used the Allen Telescope Array to scan the TRAPPIST-1 star system for radio signals similar to those used by rovers on Mars. Although no extraterrestrial technology was found, the project introduced a new method for future searches.
NASA: Life signs could survive near surfaces of Enceladus and Europa
A NASA experiment suggests that amino acids can survive just under the surface ice of Europa and Enceladus despite harsh radiation. This finding bolsters the case for future life-detection measurements by Europa and Enceladus lander missions.
Earth twin or evil twin
Astronomers have discovered a planet called Gliese 12 b, which is an 'evil twin' of Earth with conditions similar to Venus. The planet orbits its star in just 12.8 days and receives 1.6 times more radiation than Earth.
Webb telescope probably didn’t find life on an exoplanet — yet
A new study challenges the initial detection of a biosignature gas on K2-18b, suggesting that the data may be inconclusive. However, researchers believe it's possible for life to produce detectable levels of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet's atmosphere.
Signs of life detectable in single ice grain emitted from extraterrestrial moons
Researchers find that instruments on future missions can detect cellular material in one out of hundreds of thousands of ice grains, including a common bacterium as a model organism. This breakthrough increases confidence in detecting lifeforms similar to those on Earth.
Saturn’s moon is a testing ground to gain a better understanding of the methane molecule
A team of researchers analyzed sunlight reflected by Titan's atmosphere, identifying over 100 signatures of the methane molecule. The findings also suggest possible evidence of the tricarbon molecule, a discovery that could shed light on the origin of life on Earth.