AMASE 2009 expedition takes off in the Arctic

The Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) 2009 is now underway in Svalbard, Norway. AMASE has established Svalbard as a test bed for life-detection technology that will be used on future NASA and ESA ‘Search for Life’ mission to Mars. This year’s expedition includes more than 30 scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines, including microbiology, geology and biochemistry. The team will be testing equipment that will eventually fly on future Mars missions while studying extremophiles that live in glacial ice.

Source: [astrobio.net]

August 11, 2009 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal

AbSciCon 2010 First Announcement

The Astrobiology Science Conference 2010 will be held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) April 26–29, 2010. Please submit the Indication of Intent form http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/iofi/ by October 1, 2009, in order to be added to the mailing list to receive reminders and other pertinent information related to the conference.

          Lunar and Planetary Institute               

August 7, 2009 / Posted by: Marco Boldt

Living in a Dying Solar System, Part 2

Roughly 5 billion years from now, the Sun will begin to swell as a red giant. But life on Earth will feel the effects of an aging Sun long before then. What can we do to survive?

Source: [astrobio.net]

August 3, 2009 / Written by: Ray Villard

AbGradCon 2009: A Glimpse into Mixed-Reality Meetings of the Future

Avatars in a virtual amphitheatre watch and listen to a graduate student presentation streamed from AbGradCon into Second Life.

Weary of catching planes, burning up fossil fuels, and spending lots of time and money to attend meetings? Take heart! Virtual worlds are shaping up as possible venues for online meetings—and astrobiology graduate students are leading the way in exploring their potential. On July 17-18, 2009, early-career astrobiologists met at the University of Washington in Seattle for the 6th annual Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon), and simultaneously in the virtual world Second Life. Students presented talks that were streamed live into Second Life and participated in a real-world and virtual world “mixed reality” poster session. Social...

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July 29, 2009 / Written by: Wendy Dolci

Living in a Dying Solar System

Observations of distant stars tell us about our own future. Roughly 5 billion years from now, the Sun will begin to swell as a red giant, and the solar system will be transformed into a very different place.

Source: [astrobio.net]

July 28, 2009 / Written by: Ray Villard

Planetary Science Decadal Survey: White Papers Posted for Comment

Comments are being solicited from members of the astrobiology community on the following paper(s) that will be submitted to the 2009-2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Papers will be revised based on community feedback. Additonal papers will be posted here as they become available.

• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Exoplanets (Last Updated: May 28, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mercury, Venus, and the Moon (Added: June 8, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mars (Added: June 10, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for the Outer Solar System (Added June 15, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Primitive Asteroids (Added July 22,...

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July 27, 2009 / Posted by: Marco Boldt

Students Monitor Hydrothermal Features in Lassen Volcanic National Park

The Lassen Astrobiology Student Internship Program, a collaboration between NAI’s Ames team, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Red Bluff High School, will wrap up its first year of activity in August. Nine high school students and their chemistry teacher, with training from NAI scientists and under the supervision of a park ranger, have made eight field trips to various sites within the park throughout the course of the school year. They monitored field sites and made seasonal measurements of temperature, pH, and water chemistry of the hydrothermal features. PBS station KNPB, Reno, NV,...

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July 23, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice