October 2018
Looking for life on Enceladus with IceMole
... and radioactive contamination. These expanded planetary protection concerns are expected to be a critical aspect for future in-situ astrobiology missions. Power sources The main critical point for this mission is the power needed for the...
15 August 2016
Was early Mars warmed by cirrus cloud cover?
.... But how Mars sustained a climate suitable for liquid water to flow has been a major interest for astrobiological researchers for some time. Now researchers in the U.S modelling Mars’ climate are honing in on how Mars stayed...
September 2023
How microorganisms survive space travel
... to other celestial bodies and, vice versa, infection of Earth by alien forms The most effective element of the astrobiological search algorithm would be the possibility of awakening dormant forms by adequate signals. The data obtained in the last...
31 July 2017
Complex chemistry on Titan may form membranes
...that equates to roughly a million bacteria per quarter teaspoon of coastal ocean water. "The detection of this elusive, astrobiologically relevant chemical is exciting for scientists who are eager to determine if life could develop on icy worlds such...
28 September 2020
String of underground lakes found under Mars' South Pole
.... “The water bodies at the base of the SPLD [south polar layered deposits] therefore represent areas of potential astrobiological interest and planetary protection concern," write the team in their paper. "Future missions to Mars should target...
June 2019
The challenge of planetary protection
... representatives and science experts in fields related to planetary protection (such as planetary sciences, geology and geophysics, astrobiology, microbiology and sample-return). This enables the Panel to evaluate and properly assess the requests and...
