The banner shows an image of Earth at the far left on a blue-tinted starry background. A spectra in light blue resembling the readout of a heartbeat monitor runs along the bottom. Text reads Astrobiology and the Future of Life meeting to right.At the left of the image is a smear of color, starting with a bright white/yellow spot. The streak stretches to the middle of the image and transitions to a blue/purple color. To the right a 2nd smaller smear goes from yellow-orange-red and fades out.Astrobiology Learning Progressions Workshop. June 6 and July 23, 2024A closeup of a section of the cover image for Issue 9. This image is cropped to show a series of planets into the distance that represent disciplines of astrobiology (Geology, Oceanography, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology and Atmospheric Science, etc.)
Astrobiology and the Future of Life Meeting: Call for AbstractsSubmit your abstract by August 2, 202401/04
RNA-Catalyzed EvolutionDemonstration of an RNA-based system02/04
Astrobiology Learning Progressions WorkshopJune 6 and July 23, 202403/04
Astrobiology, Issue #9: Becoming an AstrobiologistA new issue of the Astrobiology Graphic History is now available!04/04
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The image shows Earth at center on a blue-tinted starry background. A spectra in light blue resembling the readout of a heartbeat monitor runs along the bottom.
Astrobiology and the Future of Life Meeting: Call for AbstractsJuly 8, 2024
Microscopy image showing three cells in focus. They are round in shape and filled with smaller vesicles. Two are large and red in color. The smaller cell in the middle is greenish with red tints throughout.
Study Examines how Viruses affect Algal Blooms in SnowJuly 1, 2024
A very wide landscape image of Olympus Mons from orbit. The caldera of the volcano is in the center. The rest of the planet appears shrouded in thin cloud cover. A thin streak of colors from purple to green runs along the horizon as the atmosphere catches
NASA’s Mars Odyssey Captures Huge Volcano, Nears 100,000 Orbits (NASA)June 28, 2024
Image of Vest from the Dawn spacecraft.
Where did Vesta Come From?June 27, 2024
The image shows Earth at center on a blue-tinted starry background. A spectra in light blue resembling the readout of a heartbeat monitor runs along the bottom.
Save the Date: Astrobiology and the Future of Life MeetingJune 21, 2024
The image is a close up looking straight through the inside of a sample tube housed in circular metal components of the rover with visible screws holding the instrument together. Light shines down inside the tube filled with a small circle of rock.
Why Scientists Are Intrigued by Air in NASA’s Mars Sample Tubes (NASA)June 20, 2024
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Date
Title
Location
July 16–192024
Planetary Science Informatics and Data Analytics (PSIDA)
St. Louis, MO, US
July 16–182024
Abstract Deadline: May 02, 2024
Mars Interior and Geophysics after InSight
College Park, MD, US
July 162024
NfoLD Think Tank
Webcast
July 182024
NASA Funding Pathway and STEM Research at HBCUs
Webcast
July 20–262024
Application Deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Innovation Cup Summer Camp
Darmstadt, DE
Application deadline
Details
Type
July 172024
NASA Consortium in Biological Sciences
Research
August 122024
AGU24-NSF: Faculty Travel Grant
Travel
August 122024
AGU24: Student Travel Grants
Travel
August 132024
EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (E-RISE RII)
Research
August 192024New
Lucy in the L4 Trojans Participating Scientist Program
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Illustration of the Perseverance rover arriving on Mars.
NASA MISSIONSMars 2020

NASA's Mars 2020 mission is the next step in NASA's long-term robotic exploration of Mars. The rover Perseverance will provide important data relevant to astrobiology research, along with a vast amount of geological information about the landing site and the planet at large that will help put the astrobiological data into context.

Perseverance will not be looking for organisms living on Mars today. However, the rover will collect data that could be used to identify biosignatures of ancient microbial life.

What really sets this mission apart is that Perseverance will be collecting a suite of samples to be returned to Earth via a Mars Sample Return mission. The opportunity to bring back samples from another planet will allow our researchers to interrogate them with all of the sophistication and thoroughness that Earth-based instrumentation provides.

Learn more