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 2026Lowering the Mo limit for nitrogen fixation by Mo-nitrogenase

Stevenson, Z., Schultz, D. L., Chamberlain, M., Rico, K., Anbar, A., Dekas, A. E., & Swanner, E. D. (2026). Lowering the Mo limit for nitrogen fixation by Mo-nitrogenase. Communications Earth & Environment. doi:10.1038/s43247-026-03193-9

A critical role of heterotrophic bacteria in early diagenesis of carbonates through exopolymer degradation and calcium release

Visscher, P. T., Boussagol, P., Bourillot, R., Dupraz, C., Braissant, O., Decho, A. W., … Vennin, E. (2026). A critical role of heterotrophic bacteria in early diagenesis of carbonates through exopolymer degradation and calcium release. The Depositional Record, 12(1), None. doi:10.1002/dep2.70057

Thallium isotopic evidence for the Tonian rise and Cryogenian fall of Neoproterozoic oxygen levels

Webb, L. C., Macdonald, F. A., Halverson, G. P., Ostrander, C. M., Nielsen, S. G., & Sperling, E. A. (2026). Thallium isotopic evidence for the Tonian rise and Cryogenian fall of Neoproterozoic oxygen levels. Geology. doi:10.1130/g53625.1

Modeling the Impact of Unresolved Stellar Companions on Detection Sensitivity in Kepler’s Small-planet Occurrence Rates

Bergsten, G. J., Ciardi, D. R., Christiansen, J. L., Clark, C. A., Pascucci, I., Dressing, C. D., … Lund, M. B. (2026). Modeling the Impact of Unresolved Stellar Companions on Detection Sensitivity in Kepler’s Small-planet Occurrence Rates. The Astronomical Journal, 171(2), 110. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ae2ead

Resurrected nitrogenases recapitulate canonical N-isotope biosignatures over two billion years

Rucker, H. R., Bubphamanee, K., Harris, D. F., Konhauser, K., Seefeldt, L. C., Buick, R., & Kaçar, B. (2026). Resurrected nitrogenases recapitulate canonical N-isotope biosignatures over two billion years. Nature Communications, 17(1), None. doi:10.1038/s41467-025-67423-y

Experimental Ge/Si partitioning during organic-mediated silica precipitation

Slagter, S., Asael, D., Planavsky, N. J., Perez-Fodich, A., & Tarhan, L. G. (2026). Experimental Ge/Si partitioning during organic-mediated silica precipitation. Chemical Geology, 699, 123156. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.123156

Slowing planetary rotation influences ocean nutrient cycling and oxygenation

Capirala, A., & Olson, S. L. (2026). Slowing planetary rotation influences ocean nutrient cycling and oxygenation. Science Advances, 12(4), None. doi:10.1126/sciadv.adw3368

Nucleus Ice Associations in Comets Derived from Spatially Resolved Properties of Volatile Gases in the Coma

Dello Russo, N., Vervack, R. J., Kawakita, H., Bonev, B. P., DiSanti, M. A., Gibb, E. L., … Feaga, L. M. (2026). Nucleus Ice Associations in Comets Derived from Spatially Resolved Properties of Volatile Gases in the Coma. The Planetary Science Journal, 7(1), 23. doi:10.3847/psj/ae2790

The CAI Database: 26Al–26Mg Isotope Systematics

Dunham, E.T., Liu, M.C., Burman , A., et. al. (2026) The CAI Database: 26Al–26Mg Isotope Systematics. The Astrophysical Journal, 282(11). doi: 10.3847/1538-4365/ae1835

Chloracidobacterium validum sp. nov., a thermophilic chlorophotoheterotrophic bacterium of the phylum Acidobacteriota from an alkaline hot spring microbial mat, represents Chloracidobacterium gen. nov., Chloracidobacteriaceae fam. nov. and Chloracidobacter

Saini, M.K. Kuzyk, S.B., Villena-Alemany, C., et. al. (2026) Chloracidobacterium validum sp. nov., a thermophilic chlorophotoheterotrophic bacterium of the phylum Acidobacteriota from an alkaline hot spring microbial mat, represents Chloracidobacterium gen. nov., Chloracidobacteriaceae fam. nov. and Chloracidobacteriales ord. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology. 76(1). doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.007003

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