NASA Astrobiology

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A volcanically active planet is shown in closeup at the left side of the image with glowing eruptions and lines of lava on the surface. To the right and in the distance is a faint blue glowing ball representing the more massive planet in the system.

Sixteen frames from Voyager 1's flyby of Jupiter in 1979 were merged to create this image. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is visible in the center. Jupiter's moon Europa can be seen in the foreground at the bottom left of the image.

The frame is a horizontal rainbow of color on a grid. Shadows of molecules can be seen through the light as well as the jagged peaks and troughs of spectral lines.

Fizzy Super Earths and Lava Worlds“Fizzy Super-Earths: Impacts of Magma Composition on the Bulk Density and Structure of Lava Worlds.” in The Astrophysical Journal.01/03

Identifying Hydrothermal Activity on Icy Ocean Worlds“Ethene-ethanol ratios as potential indicators of hydrothermal activity at Enceladus, Europa, and other icy ocean worlds.” In Icarus.02/03

NASA Raman Spectroscopic Database"The NASA Raman spectroscopic database: Ramdb version 1.00.” In Icarus.03/03

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February 2025Three warm Jupiters orbiting TOI-6628, TOI-3837, and TOI-5027 and one sub-Saturn orbiting TOI-2328

Tala Pinto, M., Jordán, A., AcuñA, L., Jones, M., Brahm, R., Reinarz, Y., … Essack, Z. (2025). Three warm Jupiters orbiting TOI-6628, TOI-3837, and TOI-5027 and one sub-Saturn orbiting TOI-2328. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 694, A268. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202452517

Three-dimensional Transport of Solids in a Protoplanetary Disk Containing a Growing Giant Planet

Van Clepper, E., Price, E. M., & Ciesla, F. J. (2025). Three-dimensional Transport of Solids in a Protoplanetary Disk Containing a Growing Giant Planet. The Astrophysical Journal, 980(2), 201. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ada8a4

TRAPPIST-1 d: Exo-Venus, Exo-Earth, or Exo-Dead?

Way, M. J. (2025). TRAPPIST-1 d: Exo-Venus, Exo-Earth, or Exo-Dead? The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 980(1), L7. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/adace0

The Once and Future Gas: Methane's Multifunctional Roles in Earth's Evolution and Potential as a Biosignature

Glass, J. B., & Hörst, S. M. (2025). The Once and Future Gas: Methane's Multifunctional Roles in Earth's Evolution and Potential as a Biosignature. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-040523-124821

An astrobiological perspective on microbial biofilms: their importance for habitability and production of detectable and lasting biosignatures

Gonzalez-Henao, S., & Schrenk, M. O. (2025). An astrobiological perspective on microbial biofilms: their importance for habitability and production of detectable and lasting biosignatures. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. doi:10.1128/aem.01778-24

Crustal thickness effects on chemical differentiation and hydrology on Mars

Lee, C-T., Keller, D., Dasgupta, R., Siebach, K., McGovern, P., Borchardt, J., & Zhang, J. (2025). Crustal thickness effects on chemical differentiation and hydrology on Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 651, 119155. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119155

A reassessment of the “hard-steps” model for the evolution of intelligent life

Mills, D. B., Macalady, J. L., Frank, A., & Wright, J. T. (2025). A reassessment of the “hard-steps” model for the evolution of intelligent life. Science Advances, 11(7), None. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads5698

Evidence for Jet/Outflow Shocks Heating the Environment around the Class I Protostellar Source Elias 29: FAUST XXI

Oya, Y., Saiga, E., Miotello, A., Koutoulaki, M., Johnstone, D., Ceccarelli, C., … Yamamoto, S. (2025). Evidence for Jet/Outflow Shocks Heating the Environment around the Class I Protostellar Source Elias 29: FAUST XXI. The Astrophysical Journal, 980(2), 263. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adabe7

Amino Acid Complexation Fractionates Nickel Isotopes: Implications for Tracing Nickel Cycling in the Environment

Selden, C. R., Schilling, K., Basu, A., Timm, J., Saunders, N., & Yee, N. (2025). Amino Acid Complexation Fractionates Nickel Isotopes: Implications for Tracing Nickel Cycling in the Environment. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.4c01060

Earth Detecting Earth: At What Distance Could Earth’s Constellation of Technosignatures Be Detected with Present-day Technology?

Sheikh, S. Z., Huston, M. J., Fan, P., Wright, J. T., Beatty, T., Martini, C., … Frank, A. (2025). Earth Detecting Earth: At What Distance Could Earth’s Constellation of Technosignatures Be Detected with Present-day Technology? The Astronomical Journal, 169(2), 118. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ada3c7

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