Astrobiology

Researchers Develop a new Framework for Searching for Biosignatures

Planning ahead is something astronomy and space exploration excels at.  Decadal surveys and years of engineering effort for missions give…

3 years ago

If Astronomers see Isoprene in the Atmosphere of an Alien World, There’s a Good Chance There’s Life There

According to new research from MIT, isoprene is another biosignature we should be on the lookout for on exoplanets!

3 years ago

Microbes Found That Survive on the by-Products of Radioactive Decay

An oceanic research team recently demonstrated that one of the largest ecosystem on Earth thrives on the radioactive decay of…

3 years ago

You’re Going to Need a Bigger Drill. The Best Place for Life on Mars is Deep, Deep Underground

New research has indicated that subterranean lakes could exist on Mars thanks to geothermal heating, which is where any life…

3 years ago

Glycine Can Form In Interstellar Clouds

Author's note: This article was written in collaboration with Vincent Kofman, a co-author of the paper it discusses and Post…

3 years ago

Geysers on Europa might come from pockets of water under the ice

Observations have already confirmed the existence of a sub-surface ocean on Europa, and there has been rampant speculation about whether…

3 years ago

A Balloon Mission that Could Try to Confirm Life On Venus

So, Venus might have life! But how do we find out for sure?! We need to GO there. (more…)

4 years ago

Could There Be Life in the Cloudtops of Venus?

When it comes to places with the potential for habitability, Venus isn’t usually considered on that list. The hot, greenhouse-effect-gone-mad…

4 years ago

Thanks to Cosmic Radiation, There Could be Life on Mars, Just a Couple of Meters Under the Surface

Remember back in 2008 when the Phoenix lander on Mars scraped away a few inches of rust-colored regolith to reveal…

4 years ago

New Estimate Calculates There Could be 30 Intelligent Civilizations Communicating Across the Milky Way

Over the years, scientific estimates of potential intelligent life in our galaxy have ranged widely. Some estimates say just one…

4 years ago