The Astrobiology Network

Astrobiology Science News 9 May 2008

Synthetic Spectra and Colors of Young Giant Planet Atmospheres: Effects of Initial Conditions and Atmospheric Metallicity, astro-ph
An Algorithm For Photometric Identification Of Transiting Circumbinary Planets, astro-ph

Call for payload study consortia for Cosmic Vision M-class missions

ESA has issued a 'Call for Declarations of Interest in Science Instrumentation' for the M-class Cosmic Vision mission studies Plato, Cross Scale and Marco Polo. A similar call for the M-class mission study Euclid will follow on 15 May.

Prospective Principal Investigators are invited to submit proposals outlining the composition of nationally funded consortia to carry out assessment level studies. Responses are due by 16:00 CET on 30 June 2008.

Full details at http://sci.esa.int/cvpl_call

Astrobiology Science News 6 May 2008

Astrobiology Science News 5 May 2008

A simple determination of some characteristics of the beta Pictoris system, astro-ph
Disk Dispersal and Planet Formation Time Scales, astro-ph

Astrobiology Meets the Video Game: Spore

Video games and virtual worlds are a great way to inspire kids' interest in science and technology. The President's Commission on Implementation of US Space Exploration Policy reports that "...video and simulation games are not only a multi-billion dollar industry, they are proving to be effective as learning devices for people of all ages" ... "The potential for converting hobbies and amusements to more educational pursuits is enormous."

]]> The soon-to-be-released Astrobiology-based game Spore by Electronic Arts (EA) is described as "an epic journey that takes you from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology, and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space." Spore explorers can wage epic battles for survival in the primordial soup, meet, greet, and co-evolve with other creatures, be part of a tribe and build a civilization, build a space ship, and explore the final frontier.

NAI recently collaborated with the Spore team in an exhibit for Yuri's Night Bay Area 2008 at NASA Ames Research Center on April 12th. Highlighting the science of astrobiology, and giving a sneak preview and hands-on demonstrations of the game, the exhibit had a steady stream of visitors throughout the event. Who knows, perhaps some of the cosmic adventurers who played with Spore at Yuri's Night are the astrobiologists of tomorrow!

Source: NASA Astroviology Institute

GSA session T96 "Planetary Pummelling: Cataclysmic Bombardment of the Solar System as Catastrophe, Catalyst, Cauldron and Crucible"

Co-chairs: Dr. Barbara Cohen (Barbara.A.Cohen@nasa.gov) Dr. Stephen Mojzsis (mojzsis@colorado.edu)

Even as we approach the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, one of the more remarkable results to come out of lunar sample analyses is the hypothesis that a large number of impact events occurred on the Moon during a narrow window in time approximately 3.8 to 4.1 billion years ago (the lunar "cataclysm"). Subsequent work on the lunar and martian meteorite suites; remote sensing of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and icy satellites; improved dynamical modeling; and investigation of terrestrial zircons extend the cataclysm hypothesis to the Earth, other terrestrial planets, and possibly the entire solar system. Renewed US and international interest in exploring the Moon offers new potential to constrain the Earth-Moon bombardment history. In light of these opportunities, this session invites the latest views on the evidence, timing and mechanism for cataclysmic bombardment of the solar system and its effects on the nascent Earth, including evidence in terrestrial rocks, effects on terrestrial systems (biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere), and questions that may be answered in a new age of exploration.

]]> This session seeks to foster greater interaction between terrestrial and planetary researchers and learn more about the effects of bombardment on the Earth. The Planetary division of GSA is hosting 18 planetary sessions at this year’s GSA meeting, and Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt, an Apollo 17 astronaut, will keynote an All-Convention Luncheon on Monday, 6 Oct.

Contributed talks are alloted 15-minute speaking slots. The abstract deadline is June 3. The GSA meeting will take place October 5-9 in Houston, TX.

For more information and how to submit an abstract, please visit http://https://www.acsmeetings.org/

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Methane and Water Vapor Observed in Atmosphere of Exoplanet

Former NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Giovanna Tinetti is co-author on a groundbreaking paper in Nature detailing the observation of methane and water vapor in the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet HD 189733b. The team used the NASA Hubble Space Telescope to observe the transiting exoplanet, using the NICMOS camera to obtain a spectrophotometric time series. This result is a milestone in the search for life elsewhere in the Universe, most importantly because it demonstrates that we have the technology to identify these molecules in exoplanet atmospheres.

[Source: NAI newsletter]

NAI Student Poster Competition at AbSciCon 2008

The competition was fierce! Of 37 posters representing the full gamut of astrobiology research areas, six finalists moved into second round judging, and four awards were made. Please join NAI in thanking our judges and congratulating this year's winners:

]]> First place, $2000, and the Frank Drake Award goes to Tsubasa Otake for his poster "Theoretical investigations of equilibrium and surface adsorption effects on mass-dependent fractionation in multiple sulfur isotope systems."

Second place, and $1250 goes to Pamela Hill for her poster "Non-redox Iron Isotope Signatures."

Third place, and $750 goes to Aaron Goldman for his poster "A Method of Protein Function Prediction for Extremophilic Organisms."

Fourth place, and $500 goes to Nathan Kaib for his poster "The Effects of Oort Cloud Comet Showers on Earth."

The awards are sponsored by the NAI, with additional support from Louis Lerman and Steve Benner through the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution.

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions

The NAI is offering 3 scholarships to graduate students or postdocs, studying in the US, to attend the 2008 MedILS Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions. This session, held from August 3 - 9 in Split, Croatia, will provide a venue to share current knowledge and develop new ideas and research projects around the topic of life in extreme conditions. The main focus of the school is on the evolution and maintenance of life in habitats such as eternal ice, hydrothermal vents, the bottom of the ocean, salt lakes, or other planets. Leading international lecturers will inform the participants about the latest developments and theories.

]]> This summer school is open to PhD and Master students as well as postdoctoral fellows working in the fields of biology, ecology, astrobiology, chemistry, or physics (or any discipline combined from or related to these). Application documents should include a 1 page letter of motivation (highlighting your interest and prior knowledge in the school topic), a CV, and a letter of recommendation from your advisor to: Andrew Pohorille, pohorill@raphael.arc.nasa.gov

For more information see: www.medils.hr/summerschool2008

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Autumn 2008 Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internship at the National Research Council's Space Studies Board

As part of its celebration of the 50th anniversary of its founding, the Space Studies Board (SSB) has expanded the scope of the Space Policy Intern program it has operated since 1992 by initiating the Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships. The goal of the program is to provide promising undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to work in the area of civil space research policy in the Nation's capital, under the aegis of the SSB.

]]> Established in 1958 to serve as the focus of the interests and responsibilities in space research for the National Academies, the Board provides an independent, authoritative forum for information and advice on all aspects of space science and applications, and it serves as the focal point within the National Academies for activities on space research. It oversees advisory studies and program assessments, facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications on space science and science policy between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. The SSB also serves as the U.S. National Committee for the International Council for Science (ICSU) Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

The Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships are offered twice annually. The deadline for applications to the autumn 2008 program (open to undergraduate and graduate students) is June 16, 2008. The deadline for applications to the summer 2009 program (open to undergraduates only) is February 2, 2009. Full details can be found at http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ssb/Berkner_Space_Policy_Internships.html

[Source: NAI newsletter]

NAI Central and Astrobiology Grad Students Participate in Yuri's Night Exhibit

Yuri's Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate the launch of the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space and the launch of the first U.S. Space Shuttle. NAI Central staff, along with several Astrobiology graduate students who were in town for AbSciCon, co-hosted an exhibit with Electronic Arts (EA) at Yuri's Night 2008 at Ames Research Center, which drew a crowd of over 7,000 people.

]]> Highlighting both the soon-to-be-released electronic game "Spore" and the science of astrobiology, the exhibit had a steady stream of visitors throughout the event, which began at 2pm on April 12 and ended at 2am the next morning. Spore is an astrobiology-based game that is described by EA as "an epic journey that takes you from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space."

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Astrobiology Science News 30 April 2008

Astrobiology Science News 29 April 2008

Astrobiology Science News 28 April 2008

Astrobiology Science News 25 April 2008

Radio Emission from Exoplanets, astro-ph
The Alpha Centauri Binary System: Atmospheric Parameters and Element Abundances, astro-ph