Astrobiologists at Rutgers University recently featured on a news broadcast from NJTV that highlights outreach work at local schools. NJTV is a Public Broadcasting Service member serving the state of New Jersey.

Scientists with the Evolution of Nanomachines in Geospheres and Microbial Ancestors (ENIGMA) Project at Rutgers are studying how proteins evolved to become catalysts for living organisms on Earth. The team views proteins as nanomachines that help cells perform biochemical tasks, and understanding the origins of proteins could ultimately help astrobiologists determine how life as we know it began.

Alongside the scientific goals of the ENIGMA project is an outreach initiative focused on sharing scientific discoveries with local students. The program is helping to educate children, from Kindergarten through the eight grade, about the search for life’s potential in the Universe.

Click here to view the report from NJTV.

ENIGMA is supported by the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) element of the NASA Astrobiology Program. To read more about ENIGMA, visit: https://nai.nasa.gov/teams/can-8/ru/