NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

University of Arizona

Executive Summary

An Astronomical Search for the Essential Ingredients for Life: Placing our Habitable System in Context

Project Reports

Atmospheric Dynamics and Habitable Zone Boundaries

Module 1: The Building Blocks of Life

Module 2: Formation and Evolution of Habitable Worlds

Module 3: Nature of Planetary Systems

Phosphorus and Sulfur in the Origin of Life

EPO Reports

Module 5 Education and Public Outreach

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. (4 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. (4 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. (5 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. (1 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. (1 reports)