NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

SETI Institute

Executive Summary

Planetary Biology, Evolution, and Intelligence

Project Reports

Abiotic Nitrogen Cycling

Expanding the List of Target Stars for Next Generation SETI Searches

Formation of Nitrogenated Aromatics in the Interstellar Medium

Iron, the Oxygen Transition, UV Shielding, and Photosynthesis

Planetary-Scale Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Nitrogen Cycle

Surface Processes and Surface-Subsurface Transport on Europa

The High Lakes Project (HLP)

Training for Oxygen: Peroxy in Rocks, Early Life and the Evolution of the Atmosphere

“Are We Alone?” weekly science radio show

EPO Reports

ASSET: Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers

Teacher Professional Development Activities

ASSET Network Teacher Professional Development

Public Science Talks

NAI EPO Lead Professional Development Design Workshop

Astrobiology Adventure for Girl Scouts

"Are We Alone" A Science Radio Prgram

Project Reports

Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

Goal 1: Understand the nature and distribution of habitable environments in the Universe

• Objective 1.1: Models of formation and evolution of habitable planets (5 reports)
• Objective 1.2: Indirect and direct astronomical observations of extrasolar habitable planets (2 reports)

Goal 2: Explore for past or present habitable environments, prebiotic chemistry and signs of life elsewhere in our Solar System

• Objective 2.1: Mars exploration (5 reports)
• Objective 2.2: Outer Solar System exploration (1 reports)

Goal 3: Understand how life originates from cosmic and planetary precursors

• Objective 3.1: Sources of prebiotic materials and catalysts (3 reports)
• Objective 3.2: Origins and evolution of functional biomolecules (1 reports)

Goal 4: Understand how past life on Earth interacted with its changing planetary and Solar System environment

• Objective 4.1: Earth's early biosphere (3 reports)
• Objective 4.3: Effects of extraterrestrial events upon the biosphere (2 reports)

Goal 5: Understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life

• Objective 5.1: Environment-dependent, molecular evolution in microorganisms (2 reports)
• Objective 5.2: Co-evolution of microbial communities (2 reports)
• Objective 5.3: Biochemical adaptation to extreme environments (2 reports)

Goal 6: Understand the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond

• Objective 6.1: Environmental changes and the cycling of elements by the biota, communities, and ecosystems (2 reports)
• Objective 6.2: Adaptation and evolution of life beyond Earth (2 reports)

Goal 7: Determine how to recognize signatures of life on other worlds and on early Earth

• Objective 7.1: Biosignatures to be sought in Solar System materials (1 reports)
• Objective 7.2: Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems (2 reports)