NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Carnegie Institution of Washington

Executive Summary

Carnegie Institution of Washington

Project Reports

NAI ORAU Post Doc Report: CIW-NAI

Project 1: Looking Outward: Studies of the physical and chemical evolution of planetary systems

Project 2: Origin and Evolution of Organic Matter in the Solar System

Project 3: The Origin, Evolution, and Volatile Inventories of Terrestrial Planets

Project 4: Geochemical Steps Leading to the Origins of Life

Project 5: Geological-Biological Interactions

Project 6: Application of Laboratory Experimentation to Flight Instrument Testing

EPO Reports

Summer Interns in Astrobiology

First Light Saturday Science School: Astrobiology for Middle School Students

Exploring Ice in the Solar System CD ROM

Interactive Astrobiology Kiosk

Astrobiology Course at East Carolina University

Capital Science Lectures

Publications for General Audiences

Public Talks, Workshops and Media Appearances

Astrobiology in High Schools

Project Reports

Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

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

• Objective 1.1: Models of formation and evolution of habitable planets (Found: 2)
• Objective 1.2: Indirect and direct astronomical observations of extrasolar habitable planets (Found: 1)

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

• Objective 2.2: Outer Solar System exploration (Found: 2)

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

• Objective 3.1: Sources of prebiotic materials and catalysts (Found: 5)
• Objective 3.2: Origins and evolution of functional biomolecules (Found: 2)

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

• Objective 4.1: Earth's early biosphere (Found: 2)

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

• Objective 5.1: Environment-dependent, molecular evolution in microorganisms (Found: 1)

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

• Objective 6.1: Environmental changes and the cycling of elements by the biota, communities, and ecosystems (Found: 1)
• Objective 6.2: Adaptation and evolution of life beyond Earth (Found: 1)

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

• Objective 7.1: Biosignatures to be sought in Solar System materials (Found: 3)
• Objective 7.2: Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems (Found: 1)