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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January 2025Raiding nature’s genetic toolbox for UV-C resistance by functional metagenomics

Roberts Kingman, G. A., Kipness, J. L., & Rothschild, L. J. (2025). Raiding nature’s genetic toolbox for UV-C resistance by functional metagenomics. Scientific Reports, 15(1), None. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-83952-w

Enrichment of Potassium During Simulated Weathering of Chloride Evaporites

Zaman, M-U., Ranciglio, D. J., Mooney, B. E. W., & Bracher, P. J. (2025). Enrichment of Potassium During Simulated Weathering of Chloride Evaporites. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 9(1), 8–15. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00376

Laminarin stimulates single cell rates of sulfate reduction whereas oxygen inhibits transcriptomic activity in coastal marine sediment

Lindsay, M. R., D’Angelo, T., Goodell, E., Munson-McGee, J. H., Herring, M., Budner, M., … Emerson, D. (2025). Laminarin stimulates single cell rates of sulfate reduction whereas oxygen inhibits transcriptomic activity in coastal marine sediment. The ISME Journal, 19(1), None. doi:10.1093/ismejo/wraf042

Informing Planetary Protection Policies for the Future Exploration of Ceres: State of Understanding after the Dawn Mission

Castillo-Rogez, J., Quick, L. C., Neveu, M., Scully, J., Nordheim, T. A., Clement, B., Newlin, L., Schmedemann, N., Hendrix, A., Raymond, C., & Rayman, M. (2025). Informing Planetary Protection Policies for the Future Exploration of Ceres: State of Understanding after the Dawn Mission. Astrobiology, 25(1). doi:82-9510.1089/ast.2024.0066

Photolysis and Sublimation Chemistry of Ammonium Cyanide with Relevance to Cometary Environments

Wilkins, O. H., Yocum, K. M., Esposito, V. J., Harel, E., Milam, S. N., & Gerakines, P. A. (2025). Photolysis and Sublimation Chemistry of Ammonium Cyanide with Relevance to Cometary Environments. The Planetary Science Journal, 6(1), 10. doi:10.3847/psj/ad9a67

Capture of an ancient Charon around Pluto

Denton, C. A., Asphaug, E., Emsenhuber, A., & Melikyan, R. (2025). Capture of an ancient Charon around Pluto. Nature Geoscience, 18(1), 37–43. doi:10.1038/s41561-024-01612-0

Triton and Pluto: Cryovolcanism in the Outer Reaches of Our Solar System

Quick, L. C., Singer, K. N., Ahrens, C., Hansen, C. J., Hofgartner, J. D., Mitchell, K. L., … Umurhan, O. (2025). Triton and Pluto: Cryovolcanism in the Outer Reaches of Our Solar System. Triton and Pluto, None, 3–1–3–28. doi:10.1088/2514-3433/ad5278ch3

Pluto Geologic Map: Use of Crater Data to Understand Age Relationships

Singer, K. N., White, O. L., Greenstreet, S., Moore, J. M., Williams, D. A., & Lopes, R. M. C. (2025). Pluto Geologic Map: Use of Crater Data to Understand Age Relationships. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130(1), None. doi:10.1029/2024je008533

Development and Evolution of Icy Layer Outcrops on Mars' North Polar Ice Cap: A Sublimation‐Based Framework

Bramson, A. M., Pascuzzo, A. C., Becerra, P., & Mustard, J. F. (2025). Development and Evolution of Icy Layer Outcrops on Mars' North Polar Ice Cap: A Sublimation‐Based Framework. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130(1), None. doi:10.1029/2024je008360

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as an Extraterrestrial Atmospheric Technosignature

Dubey, D., Kopparapu, R., Ercolano, B., & Molaverdikhani, K. (2025). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as an Extraterrestrial Atmospheric Technosignature. The Planetary Science Journal, 6(1), 4. doi:10.3847/psj/ad98eb

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