NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Ask an Astrobiologist
"why are we most likely to learn about the early history of the early by studying the rocs from the moon rather than those on the Earth ?"
  1. Content with the tag: “future of life

    Understand the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond. Elucidate the drivers and effects of microbial ecosystem change as a basis for forecasting future changes on time scales ranging from decades to millions of years, and explore the potential for microbial life to survive and evolve in environments beyond Earth, especially regarding aspects relevant to the President’s Vision for Space Exploration.

  2. A search for primordial water from deep in the Earth's mantle

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 4

    A Self-Perpetuating Catalyst for the Production of Organics in Protostellar Nebulae

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3

    Acquisition and Installation of a new Cameca ims 1280 ion microprobe

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Advancing Techniques for in situ Analysis of Complex Organics

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 2, 3, 3, 7

    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.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 5, 5, 7

    Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP)

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Biological potential of Mars

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3

    Biosignatures in chemosynthetic and photosynthetic systems

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7

    Breakdown of methane due to electric discharge: A Laboratory Investigation with Relevance to Mars

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Chemical Models of Nebular Processes

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Composition of Parent Volatiles in Comets: Oxidized Carbon

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Current Status and Future Bioastronomy with the Large Millimeter Telescope

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Early Metabolic Pathways

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3

    Early Metabolic Pathways

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3, 3

    Fingerprinting Late Additions to the Earth and Moon via the Study of Highly Siderophile Elements in Lunar Impact Melt Rocks

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Formation and Detection of Hot-Earth Objects in Systems with Close-in Jupiters

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 1

    Formation of Planetesimals in a Dynamically Evolving Nebula

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Genes that regulate photosymbiotic relationships

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Habitable Planets

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 1, 2, 4

    Icelandic subglacial lakes

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 5, 6

    Interplanetary Pioneers

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5, 6

    Microbial Communities and Activities in the Deep Marine Subsurface

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5, 5, 6, 6

    Modeling grain surface reaction pathways for large organic molecules

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Organic and Inorganic Acids from Ion-irradiated Ices

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3, 7

    Origin and Evolution of Organics

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 3

    Origin and Evolution of Organics in Planetary Systems

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3, 3

    Origin of Irregular Satellites

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Prebiotic Organics from Space

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 7, 7

    Protist diversity in extreme environments

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6, 7

    Recovery of comet 85P/Boethin for the Deep Impact Extended Mission

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Research Activities in the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 2, 3, 7

    Sediment-buried basement deep biosphere

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6

    Societal and Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 18

    Studies in Planetary Formation and Evolution

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8, 9, 11, 12

    Studies of Organic Matter and Water in Meteorites

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 8, 9, 11

    The Main Belt distribution of basaltic asteroids

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    THE VYSOS PROJECT

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Ultra-violet processing of ices in the Rosette Nebula

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Understanding the Microbial Ecology of Geologically-based Chemolithoautotrophic Communities

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4

    A search for primordial water from deep in the Earth's mantle

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 4

    A Self-Perpetuating Catalyst for the Production of Organics in Protostellar Nebulae

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3

    Acquisition and Installation of a new Cameca ims 1280 ion microprobe

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Advancing Techniques for in situ Analysis of Complex Organics

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 2, 3, 3, 7

    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.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 5, 5, 7

    Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP)

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Biological potential of Mars

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3

    Biosignatures in chemosynthetic and photosynthetic systems

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7

    Breakdown of methane due to electric discharge: A Laboratory Investigation with Relevance to Mars

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Chemical Models of Nebular Processes

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Composition of Parent Volatiles in Comets: Oxidized Carbon

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES:

    Current Status and Future Bioastronomy with the Large Millimeter Telescope

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Early Metabolic Pathways

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3

    Early Metabolic Pathways

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3, 3

    Fingerprinting Late Additions to the Earth and Moon via the Study of Highly Siderophile Elements in Lunar Impact Melt Rocks

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Formation and Detection of Hot-Earth Objects in Systems with Close-in Jupiters

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 1

    Formation of Planetesimals in a Dynamically Evolving Nebula

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Genes that regulate photosymbiotic relationships

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Habitable Planets

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 1, 2, 4

    Icelandic subglacial lakes

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4, 5, 6

    Interplanetary Pioneers

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5, 6

    Microbial Communities and Activities in the Deep Marine Subsurface

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5, 5, 6, 6

    Modeling grain surface reaction pathways for large organic molecules

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Organic and Inorganic Acids from Ion-irradiated Ices

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 3, 7

    Origin and Evolution of Organics

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 3

    Origin and Evolution of Organics in Planetary Systems

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3, 3

    Origin of Irregular Satellites

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Prebiotic Organics from Space

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 7, 7

    Protist diversity in extreme environments

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6, 7

    Recovery of comet 85P/Boethin for the Deep Impact Extended Mission

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    Research Activities in the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 2, 2, 3, 7

    Sediment-buried basement deep biosphere

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6

    Societal and Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 18

    Studies in Planetary Formation and Evolution

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8, 9, 11, 12

    Studies of Organic Matter and Water in Meteorites

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1, 8, 9, 11

    The Main Belt distribution of basaltic asteroids

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2

    THE VYSOS PROJECT

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1

    Ultra-violet processing of ices in the Rosette Nebula

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3

    Understanding the Microbial Ecology of Geologically-based Chemolithoautotrophic Communities

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2, 4
  3. What Is Life? Definition vs. Theory


    NAI’s “Philosopher in Residence” Carol Cleland of the University of Colorado Team is featured in this thought provoking article from SEED magazine. It gives a history of the problem of defining life, from Schrodinger’s “that which avoids the decay into equillibrium,” through the molecular revolution, and examines it in the context of ALH84001.

    Source: [Link]

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  4. The Encyclopedia of Life


    This week’s issue of Nature features an interview with David “Paddy” Paddington of NAI’s Marine Biological Laboratory Team discussing his involvement with the Encyclopedia of Life project. Debuting in early 2008, the EOL will be a living catalogue of biodiversity, with one webpage for each of Earth’s 1.8 million species.

    Source: [Link]

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  5. Earth's Future Glimpsed on Titan


    The enigmatic Saturnian moon Titan is still yielding surprising new details years after scientists first pierced its thick haze veil. The vision now emerging of Saturn’s largest moon, with its giant dunes and oceanless surface, is perhaps a glimpse of Earth’s desert future. Space.com has the story…

    Source: [Link]

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  6. A World Without Elephants?


    Thoughts on the future of evolution with Harvard paleontologist Andy Knoll. Watch the video to experience the entire interview.

    Source: [Link]

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