Mars: mounting evidence for subglacial lakes, but could they really host life?

New findings boost chances of finding life on Mars, but there are better candidates in the solar system.

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
Sept. 28, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: mars extraterrestrial-life lakes life-on-mars astrobiology

Ancient microbial life used arsenic to thrive in a world without oxygen

How ancient microbes survived in a world without oxygen has been a mystery. Scientists discovered a living microbial mat that uses arsenic instead of oxygen for photosynthesis and respiration.

Kimberley L Gallagher, Adjunct professor, Quinnipiac University • conversation
Sept. 25, 2020 • ~9 min
Tags: metabolism mars microbes photosynthesis oxygen arsenic astrobiology origin-of-life stromatolites

The four most promising worlds for alien life in the solar system

The clouds of Venus may harbour alien life. But where else?

Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
Sept. 18, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: solar-system life mars earth alien-life jupiter saturn venus titan cassini enceladus europa

Mars 2020: the hunt for life on the red planet is about to get serious

The Perseverance rover onboard Mars 2020 is our best bet for finding life on the red planet.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
July 30, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: nasa mars space-exploration alien-life extraterrestrial-life mars-rover

NASA's big move to search for life on Mars – and to bring rocks home

This summer, NASA's Mars Perseverance rover is taking the next giant leap in our search for signs of life beyond Earth.

Melissa Rice, Associate Professor of Planetary Science, Western Washington University • conversation
July 29, 2020 • ~7 min

Tags:  space  nasa  mars  life-on-mars  microbial-life  mars-mission-2020

UAE Mars mission: extraordinary feat shows how space exploration can benefit small nations

In just a few years, the Hope mission has boosted UAE's economy and science capacity.

Neil Morisetti, Vice Dean (Public Policy) Faculty of Engineering Sciences, UCL • conversation
July 20, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: mars space-exploration uae

The UAE's Mars mission seeks to bring Hope to more places than the red planet

A new country launches a mission to Mars. A space expert explains what this means for the Middle East and the African continent.

Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies • conversation
July 13, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: space mars india russia united-states space-exploration japan international-space-station united-arab-emirates mars-exploration space-race

From floating guts to 'sticky' blood – here's how to do surgery in space

Space agencies are seeking new ways to be prepared for a surgical emergency on a mission to Mars.

Nina Louise Purvis, Postgraduate Researcher in Space Medicine, King's College London • conversation
July 8, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: surgery mars astronauts space-exploration space-travel

Meteorites from Mars contain clues about the red planet's geology

Martian meteorites allow scientists here on Earth to decode that planet's geology, more than a decade before the first missions are scheduled to bring rocks back home from Mars.

Arya Udry, Assistant Professor of Igneous Petrology, Planetary Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas • conversation
June 16, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: space nasa mars gravity volcanoes antarctica earth meteorites outer-space asteroids national-science-foundation mars-rover sahara rock life-on-mars morocco martian-volcanoes

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster – nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets. Powered by nuclear fission, these new systems could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space.

Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 20, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: space nasa mars donald-trump space-shuttle moon apollo-11 space-exploration voyager future rockets darpa nuclear-fission

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