NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Indiana University, Bloomington

Executive Summary

Biosustaining Energy and Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Subsurface of Earth and Mars

Project Reports

Amino Acid Preservation in Saline-Lake Sediments and Mars-Simulant Regolith

Application of U-tube and fiber-optic distributed temperature sensor to characterize the chemical and physical properties of a deep permafrost and sub-permafrost environment at High Lake, Nunavut, Canada.

Challenges for Coring Deep Permafrost on Earth and Mars: Drilling Project at High Lake, Nunavut, Canada

Design, construction and testing of a Cavity-Ring Down Spectrometer for determination of the concentration and isotopic composition of methane

Environmental genomics reveals a single species ecosystem deep within the Earth.

High Lake Gossan deposit: An Arctic analogue for ancient Martian surficial processes?

Isotopic Signatures of Methane and Higher Hydrocarbon Gases from Precambrian Shield Sites: A Model for Abiogenic Polymerization of Hydrocarbons

Mars Forward Contamination Studies Utilizing a Mars Environmental Simulation Chamber

Microbial Communities in Subpermafrost saline fracture water at the Lupin Au Mine, Nunavut, Canada

Radiolytic oxidation of sulfide minerals as a source of sulfate and hydrogen to sustain microbial metabolism

Saline Lakes and Gypsum Dunes in the Rio Grande Rift System as Analogues for Sulfate Deposits on Mars

Stability of methane hydrates in the presence of high salinity brines on Mars

The Diversity of the Original Prebiotic Soup: Re-Analyzing the Original Miller-Urey Spark Discharge Experiments

EPO Reports

Materials for Formal Education: Exploring Deep-Subsurface Life

High Lake Video Journal

Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Inc. (HASTI) Conference, Indianapolis, IN. February 6-8, 2008

National Science Teachers Association Annual Meeting, Boston MA.

Interactions between Life and the Environment, Penn State University, University Park PA

Ali'I Teacher Workshop, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI

The Astrobiology Mentor Program at Indiana University

Public Lecture

Print Media

Video Journal of documenting science at High Lake, Nunavut Territory, Canada

SHaring ADventures in Engineering and Science (SHADES).

UT Earth Science Fair

Astrobiology in Secondary Classrooms

Teacher Excellence Workshop Series

Astrobiology Laboratory Institute for Instructors (ALI'I)

Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers (ASSET)

Miami-Dade County Schools presentation

Master Teachers

University of Tennessee: NAI Undergraduate Virtual Seminar

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. (2 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. (15 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. (10 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. (6 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. (24 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. (9 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. (15 reports)