Mars
Could Life Exist Deep Underground On Mars? 
Recent science missions and results are bringing the search for life closer to home, and scientists at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) may have figured out how to determine whether life is--or was--lurking deep beneath the surface of Mars, the Moon, and other rocky objects in the universe.
Geobiology
Understanding Earth's Carbon Cycle
A new study led by a University of Alberta PhD student--and published in Nature--is examining the Earth's carbon cycle in new depth, using diamonds as breadcrumbs of insight into some of Earth's deepest geologic mechanisms.
Astrochemistry
Water Is Trapped In Star Dust
The matter between the stars in a galaxy - called the interstellar medium - consists not only of gas, but also of a great deal of dust.
Mars
Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Will Use X-Rays to Hunt Fossils
NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has a challenging road ahead: After having to make it through the harrowing entry, descent, and landing phase of the mission on Feb. 18, 2021, it will begin searching for traces of microscopic life from billions of years back.
Extrasolar Planets
Water on Exoplanet Cloud Tops Could Be Found with Hi-Tech Instruments
University of Warwick astronomers have shown that water vapour can potentially be detected in the atmospheres of exoplanets by peering literally over the tops of their impenetrable clouds.
Panspermia
Transfer of Life Between Earth and Venus with Planet-Grazing Asteroids
Recently, phosphine was discovered in the atmosphere of Venus as a potential biosignature.
Extrasolar Planets
Multi-orbital-phase And Multi-band Characterization Of Exoplanetary Atmospheres With Reflected Light Spectra
Direct imaging of widely separated exoplanets from space will obtain their reflected light spectra and measure atmospheric properties.
Enceladus
Hints of Fresh Ice in Northern Hemisphere Of Enceladus
New composite images made from NASA's Cassini spacecraft are the most detailed global infrared views ever produced of Saturn's moon Enceladus. And data used to build those images provides strong evidence that the northern hemisphere of the moon has been resurfaced with ice from its interior.
Extrasolar Planets
Estimating the Ultraviolet Emission of M dwarfs with Exoplanets from Ca II and Hα
M dwarf stars are excellent candidates around which to search for exoplanets, including temperate, Earth-sized planets. To evaluate the photochemistry of the planetary atmosphere, it is essential to characterize the UV spectral energy distribution of the planet's host star.
Venus
Feasibility Analysis and Preliminary Design of ChipSat Entry for In-situ Investigation of the Atmosphere of Venus
Recent miniaturization of electronics in very small, low-cost and low-power configurations suitable for use in spacecraft have inspired innovative small-scale satellite concepts, such as ChipSats, centimeter-scale satellites with a mass of a few grams.
Biosignatures & Paleobiology
Abundant Atmospheric Methane From Volcanism On Terrestrial Planets Is Unlikely And Strengthens The Case For Methane As A Biosignature
The disequilibrium combination of abundant methane and carbon dioxide has been proposed as a promising exoplanet biosignature that is readily detectable with upcoming telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope.
More top stories from September.
Recent Releases
Recent Status Reports
Calendar
- 29 Sep: Webinar: Designing Research Campaigns for the Next Decade of Biological & Physical Sciences in Space
- 29 Sep: Webinar: Designing Research Campaigns for Biological and Physical Sciences in Space
- 29 Sep: EngageSpace
- 30 Sep: Lunar Science Workshop: Planetary Protection/PSR Classification
- 1 Oct: Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Meeting
- 2 Oct: NASA International Space Apps Challenge
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