Astrobiology

Lee's writing career began in 2007, when he worked as a journalist specialising in astrobiology. He was commissioned to attend conferences, interviewing scientists about their latest discoveries and producing engaging news stories.

Space.com •

Habitable Planets: Four Types Proposed

The traditional view of our own solar system's habitable zone may be unfairly restrictive. This could also be the case for other systems.

The origin of life and the habitability of worlds other than Earth are two of the biggest mysteries facing science today. Much research has been dedicated to these topics, but there is still a lack of definite answers.

Jan Hendrik Bredehöft from the UK's Open University has been considering habitability on other worlds. "I'm one of those guys who takes a pie
Astrobiology Magazine •

Could Life on Earth Have Come From Ceres?

Astrobiologists hope to find life elsewhere in the universe, or possibly even in our own cosmic neighborhood, the solar system. Their efforts are usually concentrated on worlds such as the planet Mars, or icy moons like Europa. However, there are other, less conventional locations in the solar system where scientists think life may be found.

At the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life conference in Florence, Italy, Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen divulged a t
www.space-travel.com •

Stepping-Stone To The Stars

A permanent human presence on the moon would teach us many lessons about living and working away from the protection of the Earth. Image Credit: NASA Glenn Research Center

Plans for human exploration of the solar system and beyond often polarize opinions among the public and scientific communities. Some believe that humanity should progress outwards one stage at a time, while others insist that greater scientific returns are to be had by launching bolder missions, with humans exploring the plan
Astrobiology Magazine •

Stepping-Stone to the Stars

Plans for human exploration of the solar system and beyond often polarize opinions among the public and scientific communities. Some believe that humanity should progress outwards one stage at a time, while others insist that greater scientific returns are to be had by launching bolder missions, with humans exploring the planets sooner rather than later. Dr. Kai Multhaup, a physicist working at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany, is firmly in the “one step at a time” camp,
Space.com •

Human Spaceflight Should Drive Evolution

This story was updated at 11:20 a.m. EST.

Plansfor human exploration of the solar system and beyond often polarize opinionsamong the public and scientific communities.

Somebelieve that humanity shouldprogress outwards one stage at a time, while others insist that greaterscientific returns are to be had by launching bolder missions, with humansexploring the planets sooner rather than later. Dr. Kai Multhaup, a physicistworking at the Westf?lischeWilhelms-Universit?t M?nster in Germany, is firml
Astrobiology Magazine •

Some Planets are Better for Life

The origin of life and the habitability of worlds other than Earth are two of the biggest mysteries facing science today. Much research has been dedicated to these topics, but there is still a lack of definite answers.

Jan Hendrik Bredehöft from the UK’s Open University has been considering habitability on other worlds. “I’m one of those guys who takes a piece of meteorite, grinds it up and finds out what the organic chemistry is in there,” says Bredehöft.

Based on these types of studies, he h
Sott.net •

Habitable Planets: Four Types Proposed

The origin of life and the habitability of worlds other than Earth are two of the biggest mysteries facing science today. Much research has been dedicated to these topics, but there is still a lack of definite answers.Jan Hendrik Bredehöft from the UK's Open University has been considering habitability on other worlds. "I'm one of those guys who takes a piece of meteorite, grinds it up and finds out what the organic chemistry is in there," said Bredehöft.Based on these types of studies, he has c
www.spacedaily.com •

Cold Storage For Alien Organisms

The new generation of lunar explorers could be the first to discover extraterrestrial life, preserved at the bottom of craters.

The Moon fascinates us. The only world other than Earth upon which humans have set foot, we know a remarkable amount about it, yet countless mysteries remain. One theory, presented at Europlanet's latest Planetary Science Congress by Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen, suggests that conditions in some lunar craters may be perfect for preserving samples of l
Astrobiology Magazine •

Cold Storage for Alien Organisms

The Moon fascinates us. The only world other than Earth upon which humans have set foot, we know a remarkable amount about it, yet countless mysteries remain. One theory, presented at Europlanet’s latest Planetary Science Congress by Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen, suggests that conditions in some lunar craters may be perfect for preserving samples of life from Earth and maybe even Mars.

The Moon rotates at such an angle that the sun is directly above its equator. Some craters n
Space.com •

Cold Storage: Moon Might Preserve Alien Life

A radar image of the moon's south lunar pole, which shows dark crater regions never illuminated by the sun. Some scientists think water ice or hydrogen deposits may exists in such areas.

The moon fascinates us. The only world other than Earth upon which humans have set foot, we know a remarkable amount about it, yet countless mysteries remain.

One theory, presented at Europlanet's latest Planetary Science Congress by Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen, suggests that conditions in s
www.spaceref.com/ •

Cold Storage for Alien Organisms

The Moon fascinates us. The only world other than Earth upon which humans have set foot, we know a remarkable amount about it, yet countless mysteries remain. One theory, presented at Europlanet's latest Planetary Science Congress by Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen, suggests that conditions in some lunar craters may be perfect for preserving samples of life from Earth and maybe even Mars.

The Moon rotates at such an angle that the sun is directly above its equator. Some craters n
Space.com •

'Alien' Water Bears Amaze Scientists

Astrobiologists work at the cutting edgeof scientific research, investigating the possibility of life elsewhere in ouruniverse. They are, however, plagued by a single, potentially critical problem:a lack of samples. Studying alien organisms is naturally difficult when nonehave been discovered.

Some scientists have taken a novelapproach to circumventing this issue. Life on Earth is abundant, and often veryhardy. Extremophile creatures exist in places we would consider asexceptionally hostile, su
Astrobiology Magazine •

Swashbuckling Scientists Discover Northern Vents

Scientists often have a reputation for working in stuffy laboratories, cut off from the world around them. But this certainly isn’t the case at the Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen, Norway. The Centre has had two summer cruises thus far where researchers embark on a voyage to study conditions on the ocean floor. Using state-of-the-art technology including a remotely operated vehicle, the scientists have discovered a new field of , one of the most northerly in the world. Creatures livi
Space.com •

Earth Hot Spots Spark Alien Ideas

Scientistsoften have a reputation for working in stuffy laboratories, cut off from theworld around them. But this certainly isn't the case at the Centre forGeobiology, University of Bergen, Norway.

Thecenter has operated two summer cruises thus far in which researchers embarkedon voyages to study conditions on the ocean floor. Using state-of-the-arttechnology, including a remotely operated vehicle, the scientists havediscovered a new field of deep-sea vents, one of the most northerly in theworl
Astrobiology Magazine •

Drilling Down to Alien Oceans

Some of the most interesting places in our solar system are also the most difficult to reach. Areas hidden under thick layers of ice such as the polar caps of Mars, Saturn’s moon Enceladus and Jupiter’s moon Europa are prime examples. Drilling through ice on Earth is complicated enough, but on another world the task becomes almost impossible.

The notion of exploring thick sheets of ice isn’t new. Probes built and used in the 1960s were strictly Earth-bound, tested in places like Greenland and A
Space.com •

Drilling Into Alien Oceans

The cryobot thermal probe uses heat to melt through ice, rather than a drill to cut.

Someof the most interesting places in our solar system are also the most difficultto reach.

Areashidden under thick layers of ice such as the polar caps of Mars, Saturn'smoon Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Europaare prime examples. Drilling through ice on Earth is complicated enough, but onanother world the task becomes almost impossible.

Thenotion of exploring thick sheets of ice isn't new. Probes built and us
Space.com •

Dress Rehearsal for Mars

Beforetesting for life on other planets, it's useful to practice on barren areas ofthe Earth. One such place is Rio Tinto in Spain, where conditions are analogousto Mars.

Thewater of that Spanish river is very acidic, similar to water scientists thinkmay have once flowed on the martian surface. Also, chemical studies hint thatrocks on Mars' Meridiana Planum plain have been moved by Rio Tinto-type water.

Usinglife-searching drilling techniques along the RioTinto river, scientists were surprised
Astrobiology Magazine •

Spot the Difference: Alaska and Mars

Little did Bucknell University geology professors Craig Kochel and Jeffrey Trop know as they were working in Alaska that they would soon predict one of the most important planetary observations ever made.

The pair were in Alaska for an eight day trip in July 2006, studying geological features and the processes that create them. As they studied photographs taken of the surrounding area, some features caught Kochel’s eye. He thought they were strangely familiar, and then realized they reminded hi
Sott.net •

Strange Asteroid Shapes Explained

The asteroids that pepper our solar system come in all shapes, sizes and ages. What causes such a variety among space rocks has been something of a mystery, until now.Researchers have been using a vast database to study a staggering 11,735 asteroids. They have discovered that asteroids change shape over time, and they think they know the reason why.Gyula Szabó from the University of Szeged [Hungary] is the lead author of the study, which was published in the July edition of Icarus. He explains,
Space.com •

Strange Asteroid Shapes Explained

The main belt is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and contains countless asteroids.

Theasteroids that pepper our solar system come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Whatcauses such a variety among space rocks has been something of a mystery, untilnow.

Researchershave been using a vast database to study a staggering 11,735 asteroids. Theyhave discovered that asteroids change shape over time, and they think they knowthe reason why.

Gyula Szab? from the University of Szeged [Hungary] is the
Astrobiology Magazine •

Building Life's Foundations

Scientists working on the MARTE (Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment) project have been drilling into the ground around Rio Tinto in Spain. They were studying underground environments and discovered areas that were inhospitable to life. Inhospitable, that is, until they were colonized by tough microbes. These organisms improved conditions so much that other creatures could move in. This has important implications when looking for life on other planets.

The team, led by David Fe
Space.com •

Life Found Where You Least Expect It

Scientistsworking on the MARTE (Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment)project have been drilling into the ground around Rio Tinto in Spain. They were studying underground environments and discovered areas that wereinhospitable to life.

Inhospitable,that is, until they were colonized by toughmicrobes.

Theseorganisms improved conditions so much that other creatures could move in. Thishas important implications when looking for life on other planets.

Theteam,led by David Fern?ndez
Astrobiology Magazine •

Testing Times for Robotic Explorers

Many space missions use robots to explore. The rovers Spirit and Opportunity are still travelling around Mars, taking pictures and digging in the dirt. But could a robot identify alien life? How would a machine know the difference, for instance, between a rock and bacteria?

Hoping to answer this question, a group of scientists, led by Derek Pullan of the University of Leicester, used robotic explorer instruments to examine rocks. To make their tests as realistic as possible, the researchers col
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