The Origins of Life on Earth Could Be Far Older Than We Thought
The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) is now believed to have emerged nearly 4 billion years ago, predating earlier estimates by 500 million years. LUCA likely thrived in the harsh…
Astrobiology is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It examines the potential for life to exist on other planets and moons, considering various environments beyond Earth, and explores how life might adapt to extreme conditions. Astrobiologists employ knowledge from biology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy to investigate the chemical processes and conditions necessary for life. They also study extremophiles, organisms that thrive in extreme environments on Earth, to understand how life might exist elsewhere. The field encompasses the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), the study of the potential for microbial life on other celestial bodies, and the implications of discovering life beyond Earth for our understanding of biology and the universe. Overall, astrobiology seeks to answer fundamental questions about life itself, including its origins and evolving contexts throughout cosmic history.
The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) is now believed to have emerged nearly 4 billion years ago, predating earlier estimates by 500 million years. LUCA likely thrived in the harsh…
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has collected samples from asteroid Bennu, revealing essential life molecules. The samples include 14 out of 20 critical amino acids and all five nucleobases necessary for genetic…
In the vast expanse of our solar system, the dwarf planet Ceres emerges as a tantalizing enigma. Scientists are investigating its surface for organic molecules, which are thought to be…
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered a vast reservoir of liquid water hidden beneath the surface of Mars. This underground ocean, situated between depths of 11.5 and 20 km,…
Life Beneath the Ice Diving below the icy surfaces of moons like Enceladus and Europa unveils a potential habitat for life within their hidden liquid water oceans. Despite harsh radiation…