Astrobiology
New Technique to Search for Life, Whether or not it’s Similar to Earth Life
A new tool for measuring the complexity of molecules is able to identify those that must have formed in the…
There Might be Volcanoes at the Bottom of Europa’s sub-ice Oceans
In about three years, NASA plans to launch a robotic orbiter that will study Jupiter's mysterious moon Europa. It's called…
Researchers Develop a new Framework for Searching for Biosignatures
Planning ahead is something astronomy and space exploration excels at. Decadal surveys and years of engineering effort for missions give…
If Astronomers see Isoprene in the Atmosphere of an Alien World, There’s a Good Chance There’s Life There
According to new research from MIT, isoprene is another biosignature we should be on the lookout for on exoplanets!
Microbes Found That Survive on the by-Products of Radioactive Decay
An oceanic research team recently demonstrated that one of the largest ecosystem on Earth thrives on the radioactive decay of…
You’re Going to Need a Bigger Drill. The Best Place for Life on Mars is Deep, Deep Underground
New research has indicated that subterranean lakes could exist on Mars thanks to geothermal heating, which is where any life…
Glycine Can Form In Interstellar Clouds
Author's note: This article was written in collaboration with Vincent Kofman, a co-author of the paper it discusses and Post…
Geysers on Europa might come from pockets of water under the ice
Observations have already confirmed the existence of a sub-surface ocean on Europa, and there has been rampant speculation about whether…
A Balloon Mission that Could Try to Confirm Life On Venus
So, Venus might have life! But how do we find out for sure?! We need to GO there. (more…)
Could There Be Life in the Cloudtops of Venus?
When it comes to places with the potential for habitability, Venus isn’t usually considered on that list. The hot, greenhouse-effect-gone-mad…