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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November 2025Toward Process-Driven Research in Astrobiology: Stepping Away from the Binary Biogenicity Versus Abiogenicity Approach

Borges, S. R., Schaible, G. A., Sagasti, A. J., Teece, B. L., Barlow, E. V., Soares, G. G., & Gangidine, A. (2025). Toward Process-Driven Research in Astrobiology: Stepping Away from the Binary Biogenicity Versus Abiogenicity Approach. Astrobiology. doi:10.1177/15311074251399191

October 2025Communicating Discoveries in the Search for Life in the Universe Workshop Report

Bimm, J., Voytek, M., Scharf, C., Billings, L., Suldovsky, B., Wolfe-Simon, F., … Determann, J. M. (2025). Communicating Discoveries in the Search for Life in the Universe Workshop Report. Astrobiology. doi:10.1177/15311074251387636

September 2025A Comprehensive Framework for Assessing Terrestrial Analogue Field Sites for Ocean Worlds

Stern, J. C., Graham, H. V., Burcar, B., Martin, E. S., Noell, A., Hand, K., … Vance, S. D. (2025). A Comprehensive Framework for Assessing Terrestrial Analogue Field Sites for Ocean Worlds. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130(9), None. doi:10.1029/2024je008803

August 2025A Compositionally Biased Oligourethane Sensor Array To Differentiate Solids by Their Surface Chemistry: An Analogy to the Sense of Touch

Fargher, H. A., Lim, J., Shuluk, J. R., Wight, C. D., Asche, S., Devireddy, P., … Anslyn, E. V. (2025). A Compositionally Biased Oligourethane Sensor Array To Differentiate Solids by Their Surface Chemistry: An Analogy to the Sense of Touch. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147(34), 31300–31309. doi:10.1021/jacs.5c10754

July 2025Life Detection Knowledge Base: Taxonomy of Potential Biosignatures

Davila, A. F., Hoehler, T., Parenteau, N., Neveu, M., Shkolyar, S., Des Marais, D. J., … Quinn, R. (2025). Life Detection Knowledge Base: Taxonomy of Potential Biosignatures. Astrobiology. doi:10.1089/ast.2022.0156

Introduction to the Life Detection Knowledge Base Project

Hoehler, T. M., Davila, A., Parenteau, N., Quinn, R., Des Marais, D., Shkolyar, S., … Pohorille, A. (2025). Introduction to the Life Detection Knowledge Base Project. Astrobiology, 25(7), 451–453. doi:10.1089/ast.2024.0107

In Memoriam: Professor Andrzej (Andrew) Pohorille (May 14, 1949, to January 6, 2024): A Legacy in Astrobiology and Computational Science

Karouia, F., Wilson, M., Schweighofer, K., Chipot, C., Hoehler, T., & Sokolowska, J. (2025). In Memoriam: Professor Andrzej (Andrew) Pohorille (May 14, 1949, to January 6, 2024): A Legacy in Astrobiology and Computational Science. Astrobiology, 25(7), 498–500. doi:10.1089/ast.2025.0001

Life Detection Knowledge Base: Assessment Criteria for Potential Biosignatures

Parenteau, N., Hoehler, T., Davila, A., Getty, S., Lau, G., Neveu, M., … Pohorille, A. (2025). Life Detection Knowledge Base: Assessment Criteria for Potential Biosignatures. Astrobiology. doi:10.1089/ast.2024.0104

Crystal Habits as Potential Biosignatures

Perl, S.M., et. al. (2025) Crystal Habits as Potential Biosignatures, 25(7). doi: 10.1177/15311074251360767

Structural Biosignatures—A Category of Potential Biosignatures in the Life Detection Knowledge Base

Shkolyar, S. et. al. (2025). Structural Biosignatures—A Category of Potential Biosignatures in the Life Detection Knowledge Base. Astrobiology, 35, 7. doi:10.1089/ast.2024.0105

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