astrobiology
We May Have to Excavate Mars to Find Alien Life, NASA Says
Cosmic rays likely annihilate amino acids within two meters of the red planet’s surface, according to a first-of-its-kind experiment.
An ‘Extinct’ Crystal May Help Explain the Origin of Earth’s Oceans
Earth’s water may have seeped up from its depths, as opposed to being delivered by impacts from outer space, according to a new study.
Scientists Find Evidence for Vast Lakes Hidden Under Mars' Surface
The new research lends credence to the idea of briny lakes existing under the Martian surface and is an important development in the search for Martian life, if it exists.
Scientists Found Creatures So Inactive They Expanded Our Idea of Life Itself
“It looks like the majority of these organisms are living at energy regimes that are below what we thought was even capable of maintenance—just staying alive.”
Nearly All Animal Life Evolved From This Gross Worm Creature, Including Us
Some 555 million years ago, this worm-like animal with a mouth and butt tunneled through the seafloor, originating the body plan that gave rise to humans and most other animals.
New Oxygen-Hunting Technique Could Tell If Distant Planets Are ‘Alive or Not’
"Oxygen is one of the most exciting molecules to detect because of its link with life, but we don't know if life is the only cause of oxygen in an atmosphere.”
Scientist Is Pretty Sure Revived Nematodes Are Actually 41,000-Years Old
But skeptics say more research is needed to confirm that soil samples were not contaminated by younger worms.
What Baby Stars and Meteorites Can Tell Us About Our Solar System’s Past
Rachel Smith studies the birth of stars to better understand the origins of life on Earth, and perhaps elsewhere in the universe.
The Geomicrobiologist Searching for the Origins of Life
Penn State professor and geomicrobiologist-slash-astrobiologist Jenn Macalady is answering how we and other organisms could survive on other planets, by looking deep into Earth’s history.
These Dazzling Gemstones Are Home to Microbes
It's the first time traces of life have been found inside these precious jewels.
Signs of Alien Life on Europa Might Only Be Centimeters Under the Surface
Europa is irradiated by Jupiter’s intense magnetosphere, but you don’t have to dig far before life finds a way (theoretically).
Evidence of Organic Molecules Found in Plumes Ejected From Saturn’s Moon
Carbon-rich molecules were detected in samples collected from Enceladus’ ocean—yet another indicator that it could host microbial life.