NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

SETI Institute

Executive Summary

Planetary Biology, Evolution, and Intelligence

Project Reports

"Are We Alone?" weekly science radio show

Abiotic Nitrogen Cycling

Expanding the List of Target Stars for Next Generation SETI Searches

Formation of Nitrogenated Aromatics in the Interstellar Medium

Iron, the Oxygen Transition, UV Shielding, and Photosynthesis

Planetary-Scale Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Nitrogen Cycle

Surface Processes and Surface-Subsurface Transport on Europa

The High Lakes Project (HLP)

Training for Oxygen: Peroxy in Rocks, Early Life and the Evolution of the Atmosphere

EPO Reports

ASSET: Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers

Teacher Professional Development Activities

ASSET Network Teacher Professional Development

Public Science Talks

NAI EPO Lead Professional Development Design Workshop

Astrobiology Adventure for Girl Scouts

"Are We Alone" A Science Radio Prgram

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. (6 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. (6 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. (4 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. (3 reports)