Astrobiology Web

5 days ago | astrobiology.com | Keith Cowing

The abstract in PubMed or at the publisher’s site is linked when available and will open in a new window. Mampre D, Spaide R, Mason S, Van Baalen M, Gibson CR, Mader TH, Wostyn P, Briggs J, Brown D, Lee AG, Patel N, Tarver W, Brunstetter T.Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome as a potential variant of venous overload choroidopathy.Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025 Jun 1;96(6):496-508.

5 days ago | astrobiology.com | Keith Cowing

Our paper fills this gap based on a three year-long study by the NExSS Quantitative Habitability Science Working Group. We reviewed past studies of habitability, but find that the lack of a universally valid definition of life prohibits a universally applicable definition of habitability. A more nuanced approach is needed.

5 days ago | astrobiology.com | Keith Cowing

Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, but water also flows beneath its surface. Most coastal communities rely on traditional onshore aquifers for freshwater, however, in many locations worldwide onshore aquifers may have an offshore component where freshened water exists under the ocean floor. Even though the existence of these waters has been known for decades they remain virtually unexplored.

5 days ago | astrobiology.com | Keith Cowing

Despite being pivotal to the habitability of our planet, the process by which Earth gained its present-day hydrogen budget is unclear. Due to their isotopic similarity to terrestrial rocks across a range of elements, the meteorite group that is thought to best represent Earth’s building blocks is the enstatite chondrites (ECs). Because of ECs’ nominally anhydrous mineralogy, these building blocks have long been presumed to have supplied negligible hydrogen to the proto-Earth.

5 days ago | astrobiology.com | Keith Cowing

The HWO Science Working Groups are excited to share draft science cases that will help shape the top-level science goals, instrument needs, and mission architecture for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) — NASA’s next flagship mission in astrophysics, as recommended by the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. These 60 Science Case Development Documents (SCDDs), written by members of the four HWO Science Working Groups over the past 18 months, span a wide range of topics.