NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Pennsylvania State University

Executive Summary

The Evolution of a Habitable Planet

Project Reports

Chemical Investigations of Hydrogen cyanide Polymers and Their Possible Role in the Origin of Protein/Nucleic Acid Based Life (Minard)

Evolution of a Habitable Planet (Arthur)

Evolution of a Habitable Planet (Brantley)

Evolution of a Habitable Planet (Kump)

Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and Biosphere (Ohmoto)

Examination of the Microbial Diversity Found in Ice Cores (Brenchley)

Genomic Record of the Earth's Early Biosphere (Hedges)

Investigations to Elucidate Influence of Photolosys on Earths Earth Atmosphere (Castleman)

Isotopic Studies of the Precambrian Earth and Element Cycling Processes (Pitt)

Laboratory Microbial Simulations (House)

Modeling Early Atmospheric Composition and Climate (Kasting)

Oxygen metabolism and oxidatie stress in anaerobic microorganisms (Ferry)

Planetary Habitability and Life Detection (Sigurdsson)

Search for Planets Around Evolved Stars (Wolszczan)

EPO Reports

Women In Science and Engineering Research (WISER) Program

Dual Title Ph.D. Program in Astrobiology

Live radio interview on "The Space Show"

Astrobiology Undergraduate Minor

Life in Extreme Environments Workshop for Educators

Solar System to the Stars Workshop for Educators

Space Day 2006 at Penn State

Life On Other Planets: Searching for E.T. Student Camp

Astrobiology in NASA Explorer Schools

Astrobiology public outreach - Penn State Astrobiology Research Center

The Paleobiology Database Summer Course in Analytical Paleobiology

Project Reports

Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

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

• Objective 1: Determine whether the atmosphere of the early Earth, hydrothermal or exogenous matter were significant sources of organic matter. (7 reports)

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

• Objective 2: Develop and test plausible pathways by which ancient counterparts of membrane systems, proteins and nucleic acid were synthesized from simpler precursors and assembled into protocells. (2 reports)

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

• Objective 3: Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems. (5 reports)

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

• Objective 4: Expand and interpret the genomic database of a select group of key microorganisms in order to reveal the history and dynamics of evolution. (13 reports)

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

• Objective 5: Describe the sequences of causes and effects associated with the development of Earth's early biosphere and the global environment. (10 reports)

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

• Objective 6: Define how ecophysiological processes structure microbial communities, influence their adaptation and evolution, and affect their detection on other planets. (7 reports)

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

• Objective 7: Identify the environmental limits for by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions. (2 reports)