• Spin-orbit misalignement for the transiting planet HD 80606b, astro-ph
• Initial Conditions of Planet Formation: Lifetimes of Primordial Disks, astro-ph
• New constraints on the delivery of cometary water and nitrogen to Earth from the 15N/14N isotopic ratio, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• The Frequency of Low-mass Exoplanets, astro-ph
• DNA Nucleobase Synthesis at Titan Atmosphere Analog by Soft X-rays, J. Phys. Chem.
• Solar X-rays may create DNA building blocks on Titan, New Scientist

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• The Mars Gravity Biosatellite Program Is Closing Down
• Salt Finding from NASA's Cassini Hints at Ocean within Saturn Moon, NASA
• New Instrument Could Detect Water Underground on Mars, SWRI
• Numerical simulations of disc-planet interactions, astro-ph
• GJ 3236: a new bright, very low-mass eclipsing binary system discovered by the MEarth observatory, astro-ph
• Dynamical Models of Terrestrial Planet Formation, astro-ph
• Circumstellar Disk Evolution: Constraining Theories of Planet Formation, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Transit mapping of a starspot on CoRoT-2 - Probing a stellar surface by planetary transits, astro-ph
• Imaging search for the unseen companion to Eps Ind A -- Improving the detection limits with 4 micron observations, astro-ph
• A Tentative Detection of a Starspot During Consecutive Transits of an Extrasolar Planet from the Ground: No Evidence of a Double Transiting Planet System Around TrES-1, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cosmic rays represent one of the most fascinating research themes in modern astronomy and physics. Significant progress is being made toward an understanding of the astrophysics of the sources of cosmic rays and the physics of interactions in the ultrahigh-energy range. This is possible because several new experiments in these areas have been initiated. Cosmic rays may hold answers to a great number of fundamental questions, but they also shape our natural habitat and influence the radiation environment of our planet Earth. The importance of the study of cosmic rays has been acknowledged in many fields, including space weather science and astrobiology.

Here, we concentrate on the astrobiological aspects of cosmic rays with regard to the enormous amount of new data available, some of which may, in fact, improve our knowledge about the radiation of cosmic origin on Earth. We focus on fluxes arriving at Earth and doses received, and will guide the reader through the wealth of scientific literature on cosmic rays. We have prepared a concise and self-contained source of data and recipes useful for performing interdisciplinary research in cosmic rays and their effects on life on Earth.

Key Word: Radiation.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 413-436.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2007.0205

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A central question of astrobiology concerns the origin and distribution of life in the Universe. For this reason, astrobiology can be considered to fall within the science called transitional biology. If we accept that life originated by a process of prebiotic chemical evolution, the next question concerns the nature of the transitional pathway from inanimate chemical systems to the first forms of life on Earth. These possible transitional states are the subject matter of transitional biology as a discipline.

A related question concerns attempts to synthesize living systems in the laboratory. In contrast to traditional biology, the definition of life has an important methodological role in transitional biology, yet we still do not have a generally accepted definition despite the immense accumulation of empirical data in the life sciences. This review analyzes three approaches to defining life and concludes that all three are problematic in that they attempt to define life with undefined terms, confuse a description with a definition, or define life arbitrarily in terms of minimal living systems.

Key Words: Definition of life--Astrobiology--Epistemology--Transitional biology--Interdisciplinary context--Order--Entropy--Information--Bioinformation--Complexity--Thermodynamic laws--Minimal living systems.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 401-412.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2007.0201

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 39+/-2Ma Haughton impact structure on Devon Island comprises a thick target succession of sedimentary rocks, mainly carbonates. The carbonates contain pre-impact organic matter, including fossil biological markers. Haughton is located in an area where no major thermal event has affected the sedimentary succession after heating caused by impact. This makes Haughton uniquely suitable for studies concerning the preservation of fossil biological markers following an impact event.

Melt breccia is the most common impactite at Haughton. It is composed of clasts of the target, mainly carbonates, embedded in a fine groundmass. The groundmass is composed of material that was melted during impact. In this study, fossil biological marker maturity parameters (tricyclic terpane-hopane ratio and pregnane-sterane ratio) and an aromatic maturity parameter [methylphenanthrene ratio (MPR)] were used to compare the degree of thermal alteration in different size fractions of carbonate clasts (<0.5-4cm in diameter) and between edges and centers of large carbonate clasts (15-20cm in diameter). The data show that fossil biological markers can be preserved and detected in isolated large and small fractions of carbonate clasts that are embedded in an impact melt.

The results also indicate that there is a thermal gradient from the center of a clast to the edge of a clast, which suggests that biological markers are more likely to be found preserved in the center of a clast. The thermal maturity values point to a higher degree of thermal alteration in the melt breccia carbonate clasts than in the coherent carbonate bedrock.

Key words: Biomarkers--Impacts--Haughton Crater.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 391-400.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0270

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The importance of hypersaline environments over geological time, the discovery of similar habitats on Mars, and the importance of methane as a biosignature gas combine to compel an understanding of the factors important in controlling methane released from hypersaline microbial mat environments. To further this understanding, changes in stable carbon isotopes of methane and possible methanogenic substrates in microbial mat communities were investigated as a function of salinity here on Earth. Microbial mats were sampled from four different field sites located within salterns in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Salinities ranged from 50 to 106 parts per thousand (ppt).

Pore water and microbial mat samples were analyzed for the carbon isotopic composition of dissolved methane, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and mat material (particulate organic carbon or POC). The POC 13C values ranged from 6.7 to 13.5 0/00, and DIC 13C values ranged from 1.4 to 9.6 0/00. These values were similar to previously reported values. The 13C values of methane ranged from 49.6 to 74.1 0/00; the methane most enriched in 13C was obtained from the highest salinity area. The apparent fractionation factors between methane and DIC, and between methane and POC, within the mats were also determined and were found to change with salinity. The apparent fractionation factors ranged from 1.042 to 1.077 when calculated using DIC and from 1.038 to 1.068 when calculated using POC.

The highest-salinity area showed the least fractionation, the moderate-salinity area showed the highest fractionation, and the lower-salinity sites showed fractionations that were intermediate. These differences in fractionation are most likely due to changes in the dominant methanogenic pathways and substrates used at the different sites because of salinity differences.

Key Words: Hypersaline microbial mats--Methane stable isotopes--Apparent fractionation factors--Methanogenic pathways.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 383-390.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0260

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Solar System Analogs Around IRAS-Discovered Debris Disks, astro-ph
• A Massive Substellar Companion to the Massive Giant HD 119445, astro-ph
• General Analysis of Type I Planetary Migration with Stochastic Perturbations, astro-ph
• How stellar activity affects the size estimates of extrasolar planets, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and 16S rDNA analysis were used to characterize the endolithic colonization of silica-rich rhyolitic glass (obsidian) in a barren terrestrial volcanic environment in Iceland. The rocks were inhabited by a diverse eubacterial assemblage. In the interior of the rock, we identified cyanobacterial and algal 16S (plastid) sequences and visualized phototrophs by FISH, which demonstrates that molecular methods can be used to characterize phototrophs at the limits of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).

Temperatures on the surface of the dark rocks can exceed 40*C but are below freezing for much of the winter. The rocks effectively shield the organisms within from ultraviolet radiation. Although PAR sufficient for photosynthesis cannot penetrate more than 250m into the solid rock, the phototrophs inhabit cavities; and we hypothesize that by weathering the rock they may contribute to the formation of cavities in a feedback process, which allows them to acquire sufficient PAR at greater depths. These observations show how pioneer phototrophs can colonize the interior of volcanic glasses and rocks, despite the opaque nature of these materials.

The data show that protected microhabitats in volcanic rocky environments would have been available for phototrophs on early Earth.

Key Words: Endoliths--Cyanobacteria--Early Earth--Life in extreme environments.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 369-381.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0278

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Once it was established that the spaceflight environment was not a drastic impediment to plant growth, a remaining space biology question was whether long-term spaceflight exposure could cause changes in subsequent generations, even if they were returned to a normal Earth environment. In this study, we used a genomic approach to address this question. We tested whether changes in gene expression patterns occur in wheat plants that are several generations removed from growth in space, compared to wheat plants with no spaceflight exposure in their lineage. Wheat flown on Mir for 167 days in 1991 formed viable seeds back on Earth.

These seeds were grown on the ground for three additional generations. Gene expression of fourth-generation Mir flight leaves was compared to that of the control leaves by using custom-made wheat microarrays. The data were evaluated using analysis of variance, and transcript abundance of each gene was contrasted among samples with t-tests. After corrections were made for multiple tests, none of the wheat genes represented on the microarrays showed a statistically significant difference in expression between wheat that has spaceflight exposure in their lineage and plants with no spaceflight exposure.

This suggests that exposure to the spaceflight environment in low Earth orbit space stations does not cause significant, heritable changes in gene expression patterns in plants.

Key Words: Triticum aestivum--Spaceflight--Gene expression--Wheat--Microarray.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 359-367.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0311

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have used the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) high-energy gamma-ray detector to look for fast blue-green laser pulses from the vicinity of 187 stars. The STACEE detector offers unprecedented light-collecting capability for the detection of nanosecond pulses from such lasers. We estimate STACEE's sensitivity to be approximately 10photons/m2 at a wavelength of 420nm.

The stars have been chosen because their characteristics are such that they may harbor habitable planets, and they are relatively close to Earth. Each star was observed for 10 minutes, and we found no evidence for laser pulses in any of the data sets.

Key Words: Search for extraterrestrial intelligence--Optical search for extraterrestrial intelligence--Interstellar communication--Laser.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 345-357.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0256

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the assumption that future attempts to explore our Solar System for life will be limited by economic constraints, we have formulated a series of principles to guide future searches: (1) the discovery of life that has originated independently of our own would have greater significance than evidence for panspermia; (2) an unambiguous identification of living beings (or the fully preserved, intact remains of such beings) is more desirable than the discovery of markers or fossils that would inform us of the presence of life but not its composition; (3) we should initially seek carbon-based life that employs a set of monomers and polymers substantially different than our own, which would effectively balance the need for ease of detection with that of establishing a separate origin; (4) a "follow-the-carbon" strategy appears optimal for locating such alternative carbon-based life.

In following this agenda, we judge that an intensive investigation of a small number of bodies in our Solar System is more likely to succeed than a broad-based survey of a great number of worlds. Our priority for investigation is (1) Titan, (2) Mars, (3) Europa. Titan displays a rich organic chemistry and offers several alternative possibilities for the discovery of extant life or the early stages that lead to life. Mars has already been subjected to considerable study through landers and orbiters. Although only small amounts of methane testify to the inventory of reduced carbon on the planet, a number of other indicators suggest that the presence of microbial life is a possibility. Care will be needed, of course, to distinguish indigenous life from that which may have spread by panspermia. Europa appears to contain a subsurface ocean with the possibility of hydrothermal vents as an energy source. Its inventory of organic carbon is not yet known.

Key Words: Separate origin--Panspermia--Follow the carbon--Cosmic evolution--Titan--Mars--Earth--Origin of life.

Astrobiology. May 2009, 9(4): 335-343.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2008.0281

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Cosmic Rays: A Review for Astrobiologists, Astrobiology
• Why Is the Definition of Life So Elusive? Epistemological Considerations, Astrobiology
• Preservation of Biological Markers in Clasts Within Impact Melt Breccias from the Haughton Impact Structure, Devon Island, Astrobiology
• Isotopic Composition of Methane and Inferred Methanogenic Substrates Along a Salinity Gradient in a Hypersaline Microbial Mat System, Astrobiology
• A Cryptoendolithic Community in Volcanic Glass, Astrobiology
• OSETI with STACEE: A Search for Nanosecond Optical Transients from Nearby Stars, Astrobiology
• Effects of a Spaceflight Environment on Heritable Changes in Wheat Gene Expression, Astrobiology
• The Search for Alien Life in Our Solar System: Strategies and Priorities, Astrobiology

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• A SuperWASP search for additional transiting planets in 24 known systems, astro-ph
• Tools for discovering and characterizing extrasolar planets, astro-ph
• From gas to satellitesimals: disk formation and evolution, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Speckle Suppression Through Dual Imaging Polarimetry, and a Ground-Based Image of the HR 4796A Circumstellar Disk, astro-ph
• The long wavelength emission of interstellar PAHs: characterizing the spinning dust emission, astro-ph
• Episodic formation of cometary material in the outburst of a solar-like young star, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Effects of Mutual Transits by Extrasolar Planet-Companion Systems on Light Curves, astro-ph
• Eleven Exoplanet Host Star Angular Diameters from the CHARA Array, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Date/Time: Monday June 29, 2009 11:00AM Pacific

Presenter: Chris Scholin, Molecular Biologist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

Abstract: In late April 2009, a team of MBARI researchers tested the world's only deep-sea robotic DNA lab beneath the waters of Monterey Bay. This instrument is the latest version of the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), which MBARI molecular biologist Chris Scholin has been developing for over 10 years. The ESP is a self-contained robotic laboratory that collects samples of seawater and tests these samples for different types of genetic material, such as DNA.

Over the last several years, Scholin and his team have used the ESP to study microscopic marine life near the sea surface in Monterey Bay. However, adapting the ESP to work in deep water added new challenges to what was already a very complicated project. Because of the immense pressure in the deep sea, the researchers had to build a special pressure housing to protect the delicate instrument. They also had to design and build an automated system to "depressurize" seawater before it could be introduced into the ESP.

Later this spring, the deep-ESP team will test the instrument for several days in water about 2,900 meters deep, offshore of Monterey Bay. In August, 2009, the deep ESP will be deployed for its first scientific mission - to study microorganisms near hydrothermal vents off the coast of Oregon. Later in 2009 it will be hooked up to the MARS undersea observatory, which will allow the team to run experiments and gather data from shore.

For more information and participation instructions: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/seminars/detail/156

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce its selections for the 2009 NAI-Minority Institution Research Support (NAI-MIRS) program. The MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority serving institutions.

This year the following two faculty members have been selected to lead new research in astrobiology.

Dr. Rakesh Mogul, from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona will work with Kasthuri Venkateswaran, at JPL, on the characterization of Acinetobacter radioresistens 50v1, an extremophile isolated from the Mars Odyssey Spacecraft.

Dr. Aaron Cavosie, from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, will work with John W. Valley, at the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, on developing methods to identify impact evidence from the early Earth: Isotopic and structural characteristics of detrital shocked zircon from the Vredefort Dome (South Africa).

For more information on the MIRS program, visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-minority-institution-research-support

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS) jointly sponsor graduate students, postdocs, and junior scientists for field studies through the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology. For more information see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/lewis-and-clark

We are very pleased to present the young investigators selected for 2009:

Jennifer Glass
Arizona State University
Evaluation of Molybdenum Diagenesis in Sediments of Castle Lake, California

Dominic Papineau
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Influences of Phosphorous on the Carbon Cycle in the Paleoproterozoic Aravalli Supergroup

Jimmy Saw
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Single-cell Genome Sequencing of a Novel Gloeobacter from an Epilithic Biofilm in a Hawaiian Basaltic Lava Cave

Dustin Trail
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
A Field and Geochemical Investigation of the Oldest Known Rocks on Earth: the ca. 4.03 Billion-year-old Acasta Gneiss Complex, Canada

Katherine Wright
University of Colorado at Boulder
Biomarkers for Sulfur Metabolism in Icy Non-terrestrial Environments

David J. Smith
University of Washington
Measuring Polymorphism in Northern Hemisphere Snow Algae Populations

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scientists and non-scientists now have easy access to information about when living species and their ancestors originated, information that previously was difficult to find or inaccessible. Free access to the information is part of the new Timetree of Life initiative developed by NAI's Blair Hedges, professor of biology with the Penn State Astrobiology Research Center, and Sudhir Kumar, a professor of life sciences at Arizona State University.

The Timetree of Life project debuted with the simultaneous release of a book titled The Timetree of Life (Oxford University Press), which is written by a consortium of 105 experts on specific groups of organisms and is edited by Hedges and Kumar.

"The TimeTree of Life web tool belongs to a new genre of resources that lets anyone easily mine knowledge previously locked up in technical research articles, without needing to know the jargon of the field," said Kumar. "For example, if you type in 'cat' and 'dog,'" Hedges said, "the program will navigate through the timetree of life to the point where the cat and dog species split, and it will find all the studies bearing on that divergence. Within a few seconds, you will learn that your pet cat and dog diverged in evolutionary time about 50 to 60 million years ago." For more information: http://www.timetree.org/

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Microbial Bingo" was the name of the game in a recent outreach event for more than 50 junior high-aged girls from across Montana. The girls came to Montana State University's astrobiology laboratories this Spring for "That's Hot! Investigating the Edge of Life" as part of the national program called Expanding Your Horizons. The girls learned about MSU's research in Yellowstone National Park, and how astrobiology might give us new insights into the early earth as well as life on other planets. The girls then became scientists themselves, using observational data in a race to fill bingo cards by identifying "mystery" micro-organisms.

Expanding Your Horizons is a national program designed to introduce girls to careers in science, math, technology and engineering. It was started in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Pier-Luigi Luisi

The 2009 San Sebastian meeting on OQOL was the follow-up to an analogous meeting held in Erice, Sicily three years ago. The general idea was to identify and discuss the areas in the field that are still "in the darkness", i.e. remain poorly understood despite their importance. We asked what were the reasons of our persisting ignorance, and what could we do to shed light on the "dark" areas. The meeting was not organized as a series of standard lectures (the usual "talk-and-run-away" format). Instead, it was centered on several selected questions, one per half-day, which were first discussed by a panel of experts and then by all participants. The questions had been previously chosen through worldwide polling of researchers in the field. It was a very intense meeting - in four days we covered eight questions.

Judging from the comments of the participants, the meeting was quite successful. The intellectual level of scientific presentations and discussions was high. Although controversies surrounding the questions were not hidden and the exchange of arguments was quite intense, it all happened in a pleasant atmosphere of friendship and honesty. The intellectual level of the debates was high also because, and this was a nice characteristic of the meeting, a number of philosophical questions related to the origins of life, such as determinism, contingency, emergence, reductionism, etc. were explicitly considered. Both people who often participated in this kind of debates and those who were not used to this format enjoyed it very much. Although none of the open questions was solved, arguments surrounding each of them were clearly laid out and problems with resolving the questions were discussed. This gave everybody a deep sense of accomplishment.

Extended abstracts from the presentations at the meeting will be published in the Origin of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere in a few months.

Andrew Pohorille

Most scientific meetings concentrate on reviewing the latest accomplishments in a given field. It is quite rare, but equally important to have a whole meeting devoted to unanswered questions and controversial issues in the field. The OQOL meeting filled this gap. I found two features of the meeting particularly appealing. One was open and in-depth discussion of both supporting and contradicting arguments related to a number of controversial issues such as RNA world vs. metabolism first scenarios or autotrophic vs. heterotrophic origins of life. Most likely each participant weighted the arguments somewhat differently, but probably everybody left with a notion that all the major issues are still far from settled. Another appealing feature was a very good combination of experimental, theoretical and, yes, epistemological arguments.

This was in contrast to a view expressed by some at the last ISSOL meeting that the origin of life is a strictly experimental field. In my opinion, this view is not just unnecessarily restrictive but makes the problem of the origin of life unsolvable. On a less bright side, I was somewhat disappointed that the group, despite its intellectual strength, did not come up with concrete approaches to solving the OQOLs that were discussed at the meeting, although I realize that my expectations might have been too high. Finally, the meeting would gain if students present in the audience were more actively involved in the discussion. In general, it was an interesting and important meeting.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Michael Wilson

The NAI held a strategic science initiative workshop in Tempe, AZ on May 13-15, to identify areas where increased collaboration between the funded NAI teams could lead to greater scientific insights and productivity. One of the initiative areas focused on origins of life research; the origins initiative was chaired by George Cody (Carnegie team) and John Peters (Montana State team) and Stephen Freeland (University of Hawaii team).By Michael Wilson

The NAI held a strategic science initiative workshop in Tempe, AZ on May 13-15, to identify areas where increased collaboration between the funded NAI teams could lead to greater scientific insights and productivity. One of the initiative areas focused on origins of life research; the origins initiative was chaired by George Cody (Carnegie team) and John Peters (Montana State team) and Stephen Freeland (University of Hawaii team).

Initial roundtable discussion lead to identification of three (later expanded to four) areas that people wanted to develop into more focused initiatives: a collaboration between the MSU, PSU and JPL Icy Worlds teams on iron-sulfur complexes, a collaboration between the GIT and MSU teams to investigate substitution of Mg2+ with Fe2+ in ribosomal RNA; a collaboration between the Hawaii and MSU teams to develop an information infrastructure for conditions and processes that are relevant to astrobiological research; and a collaboration between the Carnegie, Goddard and Wisconsin teams (with contributions from PSU, GIT and Ames) to investigate the effects of minerals surfaces on small organic molecules in the context of the origins of life.

The teams in the Fe-S initiative plan "to probe the links between iron-sulfur based reversible CO oxidation and C-C bond formation in the context of prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life." If successful, they would demonstrate for the first time the recruitment of mineral components into a proto-enzyme, and would transform our thinking about possible connections between abiotic catalysis and biocatalysis.

In the RNA initiative, investigating the possibility of substituting Fe2+ for Mg2+ in RNA assemblies will allow the teams to: 'Explore the robustness of RNA folding and catalysis under conditions that may be similar to early biotic earth, explore the chemistry and reactivity of iron and other metals in prebiotic and early biotic environments, and determine the possible role of nucleic acids in this chemistry, and explore the possible role of iron in early RNA biochemistry.'

The teams in the information infrastructure initiative hope to develop a "one-stop" information database that would "avoid duplication of effort, identify outlier projects, and communicate findings across teams and research areas" by collating and contrasting "the conditions under which astrobiologically relevant processes occur."

The small molecules initiative hopes to "Establish the potential role of minerals as sources and sinks in the preservation, catalysis of formation, degradation, and self-assembly of prebiotic and bioorganic small molecules (monomers to oligomers) in the origin and early evolution of life" using high-throughput analytical methods. This would allow them to "rapidly establish interfacial organic molecule affinity -structure-activity" and has "mplications for establishing potential role of mineral-organic interfaces in formation, degradation and preservation of small molecules and in preservation of biosignatures in minerals."

Ultimately, the workshop served to foster potential collaborations between research groups in existing NAI teams. One observation is that face-to-face meetings have a directness that virtual meetings currently lack, and I don't think as much would have been accomplished in a virtual setting. The question is what can we do to achieve this level of interaction in a virtual meeting?

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Comments are being solicited from members of the astrobiology community on the following paper(s) that will be submitted to the 2009-2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Papers will be revised based on community feedback. Additonal papers will be posted here as they become available.

• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Exoplanets (Last Updated: May 28, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mercury, Venus, and the Moon (Added: June 8, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mars (Added: June 10, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for the Outer Solar System (Added June 15, 2009)

Please sent comments to ps_decadal@nx.arc.nasa.gov no later than July 31, 2009.
For more information on the decadal survey, visit: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ssb/SSEdecadal2011.html

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Deciphering Spectral Fingerprints of Habitable Extrasolar Planets, astro-ph
• Structure and evolution of pre-main sequence circumstellar disks, astro-ph
• Robot on a Tether Targets The Mysteries of the Deep, Washington Post

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Searching for Antarctic Microbes with Antifreeze and Bombs, Popular Science
• Long odds on space viruses seeding life, New Scientist
• The New Exoplanetology: “I Learned by Watching You, Earth”, Wired
• Paul Davies studies possibilities of life beyond Earth, Earth & Sky
• Earth's Bombardment by Asteroids 3.9 Billion Years Ago May Have Enhanced Early Life, Says CU Study, CSU

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• The Long Shot (Searching for Planets Orbiting Alpha Centauri), Seed
• Radio Telescope Images Reveal Planet-forming Disk Orbiting Twin Suns
• New cleaning protocol for future 'search for life' missions
• Found in Transit, NY Times
• First extragalactic exoplanet may have been found, New Scientist
• Earth's transmission spectrum from lunar eclipse observations, Nature
• Planetary atmospheres key in search for extraterrestrial life, Astronomy Now
• International Study Using a Lunar Eclipse Could Aid Search for Life in the Universe
• New Definition Could Further Limit Habitable Zones Around Distant Suns

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• The Role of Planet Accretion in Creating the Next Generation of Red Giant Rapid Rotators
• Search for Life on Exoplanets: Toward an International Institutional Coordination
• Stellar coronal magnetic fields and star-planet interaction
• Tidal Limits to Planetary Habitability
• Substellar-mass companions to the K-dwarf BD +14 4559 and the K-giants HD 240210 and BD +20 2457

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is soliciting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Two-year fellowships are available in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research that supports the NSBRI's goals. NSBRI research addresses and seeks solutions to the various health concerns associated with long-duration human space exploration.

Applicants must submit proposals with the support of a mentor and institution, and all proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review panel. The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or persons with pre-existing visas obtained through their sponsoring institutions that permit postdoctoral training for the project's duration.

Detailed program and application submission information is available on the NSBRI Web site at www.nsbri.org/Announcements/rfa09-01.html . Notices of intent and applications must be submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Notices of intent are due July 7, 2009, and the application deadline is August 4, 2009.

Replies to this announcement email will go unanswered. Questions may be directed to David A. Watson, Ph.D., NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, email: postdoc@www.nsbri.org, or phone: 713-798-7412.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Science with the Virtual Observatory: the AstroGrid VO Desktop, astro-ph
• M Star Astrosphere Size Fluctuations and Habitable Planet Descreening, astro-ph
• Planet Shadows in Protoplanetary Disks. II: Observable Signatures, astro-ph
• Real-time optical spectroscopy of VUV irradiated pyrene:H_2O interstellar ice, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• The discovery of new warm debris disks around F-type stars, astro-ph
• On radial motion of dense environments and objects in protoplanitary-like disks, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Gifts from Exoplanetary Transits, astro-ph
• Constraining the Porosities of Interstellar Dust Grains, astro-ph
• The dynamical role of the circumplanetary disc in planetary migration, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA has selected four proposals for research to help understand space radiation's affects on human living in space. NASA selected proposals from the New York University School of Medicine in New York, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Houston, Loma Linda University in California and Georgetown University in Washington. The universities will work with collaborating organizations around the country.

These institutions will become NASA Specialized Centers of Research. They will consist of teams of investigators who have complementary skills and work together to solve a closely focused set of research questions. The proposals support the space radiation program element within NASA's Human Research Program.

NASA is investing $28.4 million for research into carcinogenesis and central nervous system risks from spaceflight. Research from the peer-reviewed proposals during the five-year award period will pave the way for development of effective countermeasures for space travelers.

NASA's Human Research Program provides knowledge and technologies to improve health and performance during space exploration. The program also develops possible countermeasures for problems experienced during space travel. Goals include the successful completion of exploration missions and preservation of astronauts' health throughout their lives. The program quantifies crew health and performance risks during spaceflight and develops strategies that mission planners and system developers can use to monitor and mitigate these risks.

A complete list of the selected principal investigators, organizations and proposals is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/acd/hrp_nscor_awards_2009.html

For information about NASA's Human Research Program, visit:

http://humanresearch.jsc.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Spitzer/IRAC Limits to Planetary Companions of Fomalhaut and epsilon Eridani, astro-ph
• Stellar Aspects of Habitability: Characterizing Target Stars for Terrestrial Planet Search Missions, astro-ph
• An Ultracool Star's Candidate Planet, astro-ph
• A Third Planet Orbiting HIP 14810, astro-ph
• Earthshine observations of an inhabited planet, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) that solicits hypothesis-driven Fundamental Space Biology (FSB) research proposals that will answer fundamental questions about how physiological systems respond to gravity, or to changes in gravity, using animal (excluding single cell organisms and cell culture) model specimens. This solicitation (NRA NNH09ZTT003N), entitled, " Research Opportunities In Space Life Sciences: Fundamental Space Biology - Animal Physiology," will be available on or about May 26, 2009, by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and then linking through the menu listings "Solicitations" to "Open Solicitations."

Full notice below

Synopsis - May 11, 2009

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNH09ZTT003N
Posted Date: May 11, 2009
FedBizOpps Posted Date: May 11, 2009
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
FedGrants Posted Date: May 11, 2009
Application Due Date Explanation: Notices of Intent are due on June 26, 2009, and proposals are due on August 26, 2009.
Classification Code: A -- Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

Grant Specific Information

Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Funding Instrument Type: Procurement Contract
CFDA Number: 00.000
Cost Sharing or Matching Required: No
Estimated Total Program Funding: not available
Expected Number of Awards: not available
Ceiling Amount: none
Floor Amount: none
Funding Activity: Science and Technology and other Research and Development (ST)
Eligible Applicants: 99 - Unrestricted
Participation is open to all categories of organizations, including educational institutions, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies.
Link to Full Announcement: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

This is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) that solicits hypothesis-driven Fundamental Space Biology (FSB) research proposals that will answer fundamental questions about how physiological systems respond to gravity, or to changes in gravity, using animal (excluding single cell organisms and cell culture) model specimens. This solicitation (NRA NNH09ZTT003N), entitled, " Research Opportunities In Space Life Sciences: Fundamental Space Biology - Animal Physiology," will be available on or about May 26, 2009, by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and then linking through the menu listings "Solicitations" to "Open Solicitations."

Proposals are solicited by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Advanced Capabilities Division for investigations that address systemic and targeted molecular physiological effects of acute and/or chronic exposure to gravitational changes. Research into the effects across various gravity vector loads is also solicited. Examples of gravity dependent physiological variables include, but not limited to, cell development, stress, muscle, bone and immune pathways. This call is for ground-based research that may eventually lead to research on the International Space Station (ISS).

Notices of Intent are due on June 26, 2009, and proposals are due on August 26, 2009. Proposals must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization.

Proposals must be submitted electronically. Proposers should submit proposals via NASA's proposal data system, NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) (http://nspires.nasaprs.com ). Until further notice, proposers will be unable to submit proposals intended for NASA through Grants.gov.

Participation is open to all categories of organizations, including educational institutions, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies. Electronic proposals may be submitted via the NASA Proposal data system NSPIRES. Every organization that intends to submit a proposal in response to this NRA must be registered with NSPIRES, and such registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal. Instructions on how to register in NSPIRES is described in the NRA. Each electronic proposal system places requirements on the registration of principal investigators and other participants (e.g. co-investigators). Potential proposers and proposing organizations are urged to access the system(s) well in advance of the proposal due date(s) of interest to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information. Questions in regards to responding to this NRA may be addressed to the contacts referenced in the full solicitation document.

This is a broad agency announcement as specified in FAR 6.102 (d)(2). Notwithstanding the posting of this opportunity at FedBizOpps.gov, nspires.nasaprs.com, or Grants.gov, NASA reserves the right to determine the appropriate award instrument for each proposal selected pursuant to this announcement.

Point of Contact

Name: Cassandra Williams
Title: Grant Officer
Phone: 228-813-6271
Fax: 228-813-6315
Email: cassandra.williams@nasa.gov

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) intends to release a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in June 2009 for Discovery Program missions. The Discovery Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. It is anticipated that approximately two to three Discovery investigations will be selected for 9-month Phase A concept studies through this AO. At the conclusion of these concept studies, it is planned that one Discovery investigation will be selected to continue into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. There will be no Missions of Opportunity (MO) solicited as part of this AO. All MO are now solicited through the Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice (SALMON) AO.

Full notice below

Synopsis - May 12, 2009

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNH09ZDA009J
Posted Date: May 12, 2009
FedBizOpps Posted Date: May 12, 2009
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: N/A
Current Response Date: N/A
Classification Code: A -- Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Set-Aside Code:

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

Community Announcement NNH09ZDA009J: NASA intends to release a Discovery Program Draft AO

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) intends to release a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in June 2009 for Discovery Program missions. The Discovery Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. It is anticipated that approximately two to three Discovery investigations will be selected for 9-month Phase A concept studies through this AO. At the conclusion of these concept studies, it is planned that one Discovery investigation will be selected to continue into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. There will be no Missions of Opportunity (MO) solicited as part of this AO. All MO are now solicited through the Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice (SALMON) AO.

Discovery Program investigations must address NASA's planetary science goals as described in Solar System Exploration, NASA's 2006 roadmap for planetary science. The roadmap may be found at http://nasascience.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/ .

Investigations may focus on any body in the Solar System, excluding the Earth and the Sun, and including Mars and the Moon. Investigations may not focus on extra-solar planetary systems.

Discovery Program investigations may propose the use of Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRGs) for missions enabled by radioisotope power systems. If selected for flight, NASA will provide up to two ASRGs, including the services associated with their provisioning on space missions, as GFE, and their costs will not be included in the cost cap. The costs for mission-specific accommodations or qualifications, however, are the responsibility of the PI and must be included within the cost cap.

Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. Launch vehicle standard services will be provided as GFE and the cost will not be included in the cost cap. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, including the use of radioisotope heating units (RHUs), is the responsibility of the PI and must be included within the cost cap. NASA is reviewing the possibility of offering options for different launch vehicle capabilities and their impact on the cost cap.

Investigations are capped at a life-cycle cost of $425M (FY10), excluding standard launch services and, if required, ASRGs. Lower-cost investigations are encouraged.

The schedule for the solicitation is intended to be:

* Release of draft AO (target) June 2009
* Release of final AO (target) November 2009
* Pre-proposal conference ~3 weeks after final AO release
* Proposals due 90 days after AO release
* Selection for competitive Phase A studies July 2010 (target)
* Concept study reports due May 2011 (target)
* Down-selection November 2011 (target)
* Launch date NLT December 31, 2016

The Draft Discovery AO will be based on the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template available at http://sso.larc.nasa.gov/aosimplification.html . Proposers should read the Draft Discovery AO carefully when it is released.

NASA has not approved the issuance of the Discovery AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Draft Discovery AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.

Further information will be posted on the Discovery Program Acquisition Page at http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Michael New, Discovery Program Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-1766; Email: michael.h.new@nasa.gov.

Point of Contact

Name: Dr. Michael H New
Title: Discovery Program Lead Scientist
Phone: 202-358-1766
Fax: 202-358-3097
Email: Michael.H.New@nasa.gov

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This amendment establishes a new program element in Appendix D.11 entitled "Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions." This new program element solicits proposals to develop specific technologies (TRL 4-6) that feed into key exoplanet exploration measurement techniques. The measurement techniques upon which future Exoplanet Exploration Program missions are likely to be based include astrometry, coronagraphy, interferometry, and precision photometry.

Notices of Intent to propose are due June 30, 2009, and proposals are due August 28, 2009. An informational workshop describing available ExEP testbed capabilities and providing guidance for developing robust development milestones will be held July 8, 2009. Workshop information will be posted on the web at http://exep.jpl.nasa.gov.

On or about June 1, 2009, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2009" (NNH09ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH09ZDA001N").

Further information about the Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions (TDEM) program element is available from Dr. Douglas M. Hudgins, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546; Telephone: (202) 358-0988; E-mail: Douglas.M.Hudgins@nasa.gov.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Astronomers Seek New Home Closer to Home, Washington Post
• Space rock yields carbon bounty, BBC
• Improved Measurement of the Rossiter-McLaughlin Effect in the Exoplanetary System HD 17156, astro-ph
• Exploring Antarctica's Lake Bonney - ENDURANCE robot dives into ice-covered lake, NSF
• Robot offers new views of marine environment around McMurdo, Antarctica, NSF

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)