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Objectives

How Does Life Begin and Develop?

Objective 1
Sources of 0rganics on Earth

Objective 2
Origin of Life's Cellular Components

Objective 3
Models for Life

Objective 4
Genomic Clues to Evolution

Objective 5
Linking Planetary and Biological Evolution

Objective 6
Microbial Ecology

Does Life Exist Elsewhere in the Universe?

Objective 7
The Extremes of Life

Objective 8
Past and Present Life on Mars

Objective 9
Life's Precursors and Habitats in the Outer Solar System

Objective 10
Natural Migration of Life

Objective 11
Origin of Habitable Planets

Objective 12
Effects of Climate and Geology on Habitability

Objective 13
Extrasolar Biomarkers


What is Life's Future on Earth and Beyond?

Objective 14
Ecosystem Response to Rapid Environmental Change

Objective 15
Earth's Future Habitability

Objective 16
Bringing Life with Us beyond Earth

Objective 17
Planetary Protection


   


Question: Does Life Exist Elsewhere in the Universe?
The Extremes of Life

Objective 7: Identify the environmental limits for life by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions.

 

The habitable zone is defined ultimately by life's capacity to adapt to extremes in key environmental parameters. For example, Mars' habitability is severely constrained by low temperatures, low water potential, and damaging photochemical reactions. The hazards of extreme conditions can be mitigated by biochemical and structural countermeasures within cells, and by processes at the ecosystem level. An effective research program will combine studies of natural ecosystems, physiology, and genetics with the development of new research technologies and missions for the exploration of extreme environments--first in our own Solar System and later, beyond.

Implementation

Near- to Mid-Term:

  • Identify and characterize the biota in those extreme environments on Earth that are most relevant for a search for life on Mars and Europa.

  • Define more completely the range of strategies for obtaining biochemically-useful energy.

  • Define the mechanisms that cells and ecosystems have evolved to survive the extremes in environmental conditions.

  • Define the potential for fossilization and preservation of biota in extreme environments.

  • Determine whether the life forms from extreme environments on Earth could exist in other planetary environments.

Future extensions:

  • This research will will help to define more completely the full range of life's capacities for survival. It will lead to more effective strategies to search for life beyond Earth, because it will aid in the selection of sites for exploration, and it will optimize our ability to recognize evidence of life and its fossils.
         


Questions? Comments?

Responsible NASA Official:
Mary Voytek

Last Updated: October 27, 2014