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2012 Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference
The 2012 Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference will be held on August 27–30, 2012, preceded by the Research Focus Group splinter, August 24-26. The conference will be held at the California Institute for Technology (Caltech), with an outreach event at the University of Southern California (USC), and a field-trip to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
The conference will consist of three days of scientific sessions, two evenings of public outreach and education activities, and a one day field trip to JPL. The talks and poster sessions will draw on the success of past AbGradCons as a...
February 2, 2012 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice
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O/OREOS Nanosatellite Success in Orbit
The O/OREOS payloads and bus undergo functional tests before integration with the satellite frame. Image credit: NASA/Dominic Hart
NASA’s Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses (O/OREOS) nanosatellite has successfully carried microorganisms to a high-inclination, low-Earth orbit and monitored the effects of the space environment on their growth and metabolism. The 12-pound O/OREOS nanosatellite, which was roughly the size of a loaf of bread, was launched in November 2011 and carried two populations of the microbe Bacillus subtilis into space. One set of microbes was a naturally occurring strain, and the second was a radiation-resistant mutant strain.The microorganisms were part of the Space Environment Survivability of Live Organisms (SESLO) project, which characterized the growth,...
Source: [Link]
January 30, 2012 / Written by: Aaron L. Gronstal
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The Pale Blue Blog
The Pale Blue Blog, now available at Astrobiology Magazine. http://astrobio.net/paleblueblog/
The Astrobiology Magazine is now welcoming the addition of the Pale Blue Blog – a unique collection of individual bloggers who voice their opinions on matters ranging from the evolution of life to extrasolar planets. According to the organizers, the new science blog is “about ‘Pale blue dots,’ in the way that Carl Sagan once referred to the Earth.”From Pale Blue Blog:
This blog aims to be a little different than your “traditional” science blog, in much the same way an interactive classroom is different from a “traditional” powerpoint-based one. We want to foster multi-directional conversations....Source: [astrobio.net]
January 13, 2012 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal
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FameLab Astrobiology in Houston
We need you in Houston! Sign up today to participate in FameLab Astrobiology at the Lunar and Planetary Institute on January 13th. FameLab is a science communication competition that focuses on building your skills with workshops on good communication practices. The workshop in Houston will be led by the Co-Directors of the National Association for Interpretation. Competitors will present a three-minute piece on their research or an astrobiology-related topic of their choosing. Those topping the competition in Houston will go on to the final at AbSciCon in April…the winner there will go...
January 5, 2012 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice
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New Astrobiology Chair at Library of Congress
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOW FEBRUARY 13TH
Candidates should apply directly using the online form. Nominations should be submitted in writing to scholarly@loc.gov.
NASA and the Library of Congress have established the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA-Library of Congress chair in Astrobiology at the Library’s scholarly research organization, the John W. Kluge Center in Washington. The chair is named for the late Nobel Laureate and founding director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, Baruch
“Barry” Blumberg.Astrobiology is the study of the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology addresses three fundamental...
January 3, 2012 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice
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A Microchip off the Old Block
Researchers have developed a fully integrated microfluidic device capable of performing automated end-to-end analyses of amino acids. Credit: Mora et al., 2011
A new instrument developed for space missions could be used to determine whether or not organic chemistry on planets and moons is associated with past or present life. The ‘lab-on-a-chip’ device was designed by a team of scientists supported by the NASA Astrobiology Technology and Instrument Development (ASTID) program. Using only computers to control the device remotely, the researchers performed an entire, ‘end-to-end’ analysis of amino acids in a sample. This included manipulating liquids for sample pretreatment and electrophoretic analysis. The process uses an array of pneumatically actuated valves and pumps to route fluid into...December 6, 2011 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal
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NAI Cooperative Agreement Notice Cycle 6 Now Available
The NAI Cooperative Agreement Notice Cycle 6 is an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Proposers will be required to clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary research program in astrobiology, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute’s Mission Statement.
December 5, 2011 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice
