NASA Moon Base Could Become Earth’s First Defense Against Alien Microbes
Scientists say the Moon could serve as Earth’s first biological shield by housing a secure facility for quarantining…
Biocidal Conditions in Low-Mars-Orbit Can Inactivate Bioburden on External Mars Spacecraft Surfaces and Dust Particles Within a Few Sols
Coupon arrangements within the Planetary Atmosphere Chamber (PAC) during low-Mars-orbit (LMO) simulations. (A) The coupons for Exp-1 and…
AGU Astrobiology Special: Icy Worlds Get New Planetary Protection Guidelines
This week from AGU astrobiology special edition: Icy worlds get new planetary protection guidelines AGU News AbSciCon26 –…
NASA cleanroom fungus could survive a trip to Mars, raising contamination concerns
A fungus pulled from NASA cleanrooms kept surviving tests that were meant to mimic nearly every stage of…
Martian microbes can survive being blasted into space by a large asteroid strike
Some bacteria can take a punch that would crush a submarine. In a new set of impact tests,…
Tardigrades and water reveal potential for food growth on Mars
Tardigrades have a reputation for being nearly indestructible. These microscopic animals, often nicknamed water bears, can dry out…