NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

University of California, Los Angeles

Executive Summary

exec sum ucla

Project Reports

Dating Earliest Life from Akilia Island, Greenland

Early Earth's Atmosphere, Oceans and Life

Electrochemical isotope effects with applications to stable isotope fractionation in transition metals

Evolution of Biological Complexity

Evolution of eukaryotes and the Cambrian Explosion

Evolution of sensory and neural systems in basal animals

Extrasolar Planetary Systems and the Potential for Terrestrial Planets

Extraterrestrial Impact History on Earth

Genome Evolution and Innovation

Habitability of Jupiter's Galilean Moons

Habitability within the Solar System

Impacts and the Evolution of Planetary Atmospheres

Oceans and Kuiper Belts in Extrasolar Planetary Systems

Orbital stability of terrestrial planets and asteroids

Organic molecule detection using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

Photodissociation experiments elucidating the mechanism of anomalous sulfur isotope fractionation

Significance of photochemistry in determining the inorganic and organic chemistry of protoplanetary materials

Whole genome comparisons and the Evolution of Methane and Sulfur Metabolisms

EPO Reports

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 (4 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 2.2: 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 3.4: Origins of cellularity and protobiological systems (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 (7 reports)
• Objective 4.2: Foundations of complex life (5 reports)
• Objective 4.3: Effects of extraterrestrial events upon the biosphere (1 reports)

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

• Objective 5.1: Environment-dependent, molecular evolution in microorganisms (1 reports)
• Objective 5.3: Biochemical adaptation to extreme environments (1 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)

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)