Hiding from Jupiter's Radiation

Researchers as part of NASA’s Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology program are mapping the surfaces of Jupiter’s moons Europa and Ganymede. One goal is to identify ‘dead zones’ where the powerful radiation of Jupiter would likely destroy any interesting organic compounds. The team also hopes to find areas that are possible ‘safe havens’ – where materials expelled from the moons’ subsurface oceans might survive. Such areas could be extremely important sites for future missions to the Jovian system.

Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

January 19, 2009 / Written by: Michael Schirber

Replicating RNA

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute have made important steps toward understanding how life originated by shedding light on the ‘RNA World’ hypothesis. The ‘RNA World’ refers to the idea that life on Earth went through a stage where RNA was used to store information and act as a catalyst, much like DNA and proteins are used in organisms today. A critical component of this stage would be that RNA molecules would have to replicate themselves. The team at Scripps has now synthesized RNA enzymes that can replicate themselves without the help of additional...

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Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

January 16, 2009 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal

Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet

A team of NASA and university scientists has achieved the first definitive detection of methane in the atmosphere of Mars. This discovery indicates the planet is either biologically or geologically active.

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Source: [NASA]

January 15, 2009 / Posted by: Marco Boldt

Methane-Spewing Martians?

A research team, funded as part of the Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development and Mission Concept Studies (ASTID), is building optical devices that may help scientists understand if methane on Mars could be a sign of life. The recent discovery of methane in the atmosphere of Mars raised the question of whether or not the gas could be produced by living organisms. The team hopes their instruments will be able to measure isotopic abundances in methane signatures that could distinguish a biological origin from a geological one.

Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

January 15, 2009 / Written by: Michael Schirber

A Banner Year for Astrobiology in Discover Magazine's Top 100 Stories of 2008

NAI-funded research confirming the presence of extraterrestrial nucleobases within the Murchison meteorite featured squarely in the middle of Discover’s annual Top 100 list, coming in at number 50. Researchers from NAI’s NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Team contributed to the remarkable study, the results of which imply that the building blocks of life could be widespread throughout the universe. Other stories of astrobiological significance anchored the list on both ends: the confirmation of water ice on Mars by NASA’s Phoenix lander—number 6; and the detection of hydrocarbons in the icy jets of...

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January 12, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers (ASSET)

ASSET, produced by the SETI Institute, is a science and curriculum institute for high school science teachers focused on the 9th grade curriculum, Voyages Through Time. The ASSET experience, held at San Francisco State University from 15-20 June 2009, will be intense and exciting, interactive and content rich, with presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA, and California Academy of Sciences. Participants receive a copy of VTT. All expenses are covered by grant funds. Applications accepted January 5 – February 20, 2009.

January 12, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

NAI Scientist Elected AAAS Fellow

Please join NAI in congratulating Jim Elser of the new Arizona State University (ASU) Team on his election as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He and the other newly elected fellows will be recognized Feb. 14 at the Fellows forum, during the 2009 AAAS annual meeting in Chicago.

Becoming a Fellow is in recognition of efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. Within that general framework, each awardee is honored for contributions to a specific field.

Elser is cited by AAAS for “pioneering...

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Source: [Arizona State University Press Release]

January 5, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice