Belching Volcanoes or Fartin' Martians?

Life On Mars, The Sun

"NASA will hold a science update at 2 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 15, to discuss analysis of the "ALIEN microbes living just below the Martian soil are responsible for a haze of methane around the Red Planet, Nasa scientists believe. The gas, belched in vast quantities in our world by cows, was detected by orbiting spacecraft and from Earth using giant telescopes. Nasa are today expected to confirm its presence during a briefing at their Washington HQ. And the find is seen as exciting new evidence that Martian microbes are still alive today. Some scientists reckon methane is also produced by volcanic processes. But there are NO known active volcanoes on Mars."

Has Nasa found life on Mars?, Guardian

"If a newspaper headline ends in a question mark, the answer is almost always "no". And so it is in this case. Later today, Nasa scientists will announce they have detected enormous releases of methane from Mars. Could it be evidence of martian life? Undoubtedly yes. Is it proof of life on Mars? Certainly not."

Water and methane together equal life on Mars?, Times of India

"A report to be carried in Friday's issue of the journal Science details the observations, made using three telescopes in Hawaii. "The most compelling question relates to the origin of methane on Mars. The methane we detected is of unknown age--its origin could be ancient or perhaps recent," Michael Mumma of NASA and colleagues wrote. The methane appears to have been produced in plumes from certain areas on Mars as temperatures warmed, they said. "Living systems produce more than 90 percent of Earth's atmospheric methane; the balance is of geochemical origin. On Mars, methane could be a signature of either origin," they added."

Clouds of Methane May Mean Life on Mars, Fox News

"(American media outlets are not yet reporting the story because they're honoring an "embargo," a promise to not run a story until a designated time, in this case 2 p.m. EST, when NASA is expected to hold a press conference. The Sun "broke" the embargo, prompting other British papers to follow suit.)"

Editor's update: Classic exaggerated arm waving from the British press - as linked to by the Drudge Report.

Meanwhile, if this embargo information is true (I am checking) then I'd really like to know why news outlets in foreign countries are provided with official NASA news before American taxpayers - the people who actually paid for the research. Indeed, one of the papers above engages in soft porn with their "page 3" photo spreads.

Update: NASA HQ PAO tells me that they have not released anything under embargo. I have not been sent anything under embargo from anyone else so I do not know what is being referred to. But the Times of India is apparently quoting an article in Science magazine - so someone at Science must have sent something out that found its way to them.

This is NASA research and NASA PAO is not even in on the embargo. Michael Mumma is a NASA employee and the research is being announced at a NASA press conference. Very strange. Stay tuned.

NASA Science Update to Discuss Mars Atmosphere Activity

"NASA will hold a science update at 2 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 15, to discuss analysis of the Martian atmosphere that raises the possibility of life or geologic activity. The briefing will take place in the James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St., S.W., Washington, and carried live on NASA Television."

Astrobiology Update

Leadership change for NASA Astrobiology

"Dr. Mary A. Voytek, a microbiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, VA, takes charge of NASA's Astrobiology Program effective September 15 as Interim Senior Scientist for Astrobiology in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA HQ."

Large Planet Sighted Circling Sunlike Star

First Picture of Likely Planet around a Sun-like Star

"Scientists used the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawai'i to take images of the young star 1RXS J160929.1-210524 (which lies about 500 light-years from Earth) and a candidate companion of that star.

They also obtained spectra to confirm the nature of the companion, which has a mass about 8 times that of Jupiter, and lies roughly 330 times the Earth-Sun distance away from its star. The parent star is similar in mass to the Sun, but is much younger."

Today's Video: Astrobiology Rap

Video: Astrobiology Rap

"Tune in for the all new 'Astrobiology Rap', written by Jonathan Chase for the latest Astrobiology Magazine European Edition (AMEE) -- the Nordic Invasion. Jon is an early career researcher in science communication. Multi-talented, Jon has undergraduate degrees in both Aerospace Engineering, and Science and Science Fiction. As a post-graduate practitioner in communicating science, Jon is actively involved in a number of science communication activities."

Video below

News From Mars: Soil Less Earth-like Than Thought

NASA Mars Phoenix Data More Negative On Potential For Life, Aviation Week & Space Technology

"NASA will announce today that new data from the Phoenix Mars lander indicate that it is looking less conclusive that soil analyzed by the lander's soil chemistry experiment is Earth-like and can support life.

An initial soil test by the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) instrument indicated that the soil is highly Earth-like. The second test, however, is leading scientists to view the data as more inconclusive."

NASA: Reports of Martian-Life Announcement 'Bogus', Fox

"Note the [Aviation Week] story said very, very clearly three times or so, NO life on Mars detected and Phoenix can NOT [detect life] in the first place," Covault wrote in an e-mail."

NASA Phoenix Lander Spacecraft Analyzing Martian Soil Data, NASA

"Scientists are analyzing results from soil samples delivered several weeks ago to science instruments on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander to understand the landing site's soil chemistry and mineralogy."

NASA's Mars News Is Not Life, But Perchlorate, Slashdot

"In an update to the little green men story of not-life-on-Mars, NASA has twittered: 'The buzz this weekend was due to an interesting soil chemistry finding, still preliminary, but now avail here:' where 'here' is NASA Spacecraft Analyzing Martian Soil Data. The exciting bit: 'Within the last month, two samples have been analyzed by the Wet Chemistry Lab of the spacecraft's Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer, or MECA, suggesting one of the soil constituents may be perchlorate, a highly oxidizing substance.

Phoenix Found More Than Water on Mars

White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life

"The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology. Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say. The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site."

Tasting Water on Mars

NASA Spacecraft Confirms Martian Water, Mission Extended

"Laboratory tests aboard NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander have identified water in a soil sample. The lander's robotic arm delivered the sample Wednesday to an instrument that identifies vapors produced by the heating of samples. "We have water," said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer, or TEGA. "We've seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted."

Astonishing News From Mars

NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander Returns Treasure Trove for Science

"This soil appears to be a close analog to surface soils found in the upper dry valleys in Antarctica," Kounaves said. "The alkalinity of the soil at this location is definitely striking. At this specific location, one inch into the surface layer, the soil is very basic, with a pH of between eight and nine. We also found a variety of components of salts that we haven't had time to analyze and identify yet, but that include magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride." "This is more evidence for water because salts are there. We also found a reasonable number of nutrients, or chemicals needed by life as we know it," Kounaves said. "Over time, I've come to the conclusion that the amazing thing about Mars is not that it's an alien world, but that in many aspects, like mineralogy, it's very much like Earth."

Astrobiology Exploration Using Humans in Submersibles

NASA Astrobiology Research: Astronaut, Scientists Explore Lake to Learn More About Life (Video and links added)

Editor's note: NASA Ames Public Affairs has dropped the ball again. They did not bother to mention the word "astrobiology", Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP), or the NASA Astrobiology Insitute. Yet this entire activity is all about Astrobiology. Nor did they bother to link to the Pavilion Lake Research Project's website or to the SETI Institute or the Deep Worker's provider, Nuytco Research.

Why they'd omit any mention of this signature activity at Ames is simply baffling.

This Sounds Like Conditions On Mars

A survivor in Greenland: A novel bacterial species is found trapped in 120,000-year-old ice, Penn State

"A team of Penn State scientists has discovered a new ultra-small species of bacteria that has survived for more than 120,000 years within the ice of a Greenland glacier at a depth of nearly two miles. The microorganism's ability to persist in this low-temperature, high-pressure, reduced-oxygen, and nutrient-poor habitat makes it particularly useful for studying how life, in general, can survive in a variety of extreme environments on Earth and possibly elsewhere in the solar system."

Spore: The Game

Astrobiology Meets the Video Game: Spore

"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."

Astrobiology Near The North Pole

McGill High Arctic Research Station (MARS) Status Report - Dale Andersen: 12 April 2008

"The photos here were taken yesterday (satellite receiver) and last week (aerial of the CSA camp). More when time permits. I have to go hit the road via snowmobile to get back to the McGill High Arctic Research Station (MARS) which is where we are staying. It is not far, but it is a bit cool right now -25C - which for this time of year is not too bad."

A Way To Limit Radiation Hazards In Space?

Report: Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration

"For astronauts, however, there is one danger in space that does not end when they step out of their spacecraft. The radiation that permeates space-- unattenuated by Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere--may damage or kill cells within astronauts' bodies, resulting in cancer or other health consequences years after a mission ends."

Drug protects mice, monkeys from radiation damage, Reuters

"An experimental drug helped protect mice and monkeys from the damaging effects of radiation, researchers said on Thursday, in a finding that may lead to less toxic cancer treatments or an emergency treatment for radiation exposure."

An Agonist of Toll-Like Receptor 5 Has Radioprotective Activity in Mouse and Primate Models, Science (subscription)

"... Supported by grants CA75179 and AI066497 from NIH and grants from NASA (U.S. National Aeronuautics and Space Administration)"

Interplanetary Hitchikers

Life Forms Ejected on Asteroid Impact Could Survive to Reseed Earth According to a Study Published in Astrobiology

"In the event that an asteroid or comet would impact Earth and send rock fragments containing embedded microorganisms into space, at least some of those organisms might survive and reseed on Earth or another planetary surface able to support life, according to a study published in the Spring 2008 (Volume 8, Number 1) issue of Astrobiology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper is available free online."

Are Terrestrial Planets Common?

Evolution of Mid-IR Excess Around Sun-like Stars: Constraints on Models of Terrestrial Planet Formation

"We report observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) regarding the frequency of 24 micron excess emission toward sun-like stars. Our unbiased sample is comprised of 309 stars with masses 0.7-2.2 Msun and ages from <3 Myr to >3 Gyr that lack excess emission at wavelengths <=8 microns. The results suggest that many, perhaps most, sun-like stars might form terrestrial planets."

Imre Friedmann

Noted astrobiologist Imre Friedmann has died, SpaceRef

"Noted astrobiologist Imre Friedmann died yesterday morning. Friedmann's main interest was the microbial ecology of absolute extreme environments - how life adapts to some of the harshest locations on Earth - and what this says for the possibility that life can exist in similar locations on other worlds. This research required many field trips to some of the harshest locations on our planet. Also, of note, Friedmann guided the developing careers of many of today's leading astrobiologists."

Comments? Send them to nasawatch@reston.com. Your Comments thus far:

"Imre was a good friend of anyone who shared his interests in and enthusiasm for life and discovery. He was a careful scientist who dedicated himself to understanding the natural world and the often underestimated ability of microbes to make their living in desert environments from the Negev and Gobi deserts to the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. We will miss his questing spirit and ever-present sense of humor. Glad you could put him on the site!"

John Rummel, NASA

DEPTHX Bot Explores Ultra Deep Sinkhole

NASA DEPTHX Robot Completes Test Drive of Exploration Capabilities (plus extra photos)

"In late May, a NASA-funded robot successfully navigated one of the world's deepest sinkholes. The mission could be a prelude to a future mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, believed to contain a liquid water ocean. The Deep Phreatic Thermal Explorer (DEPTHX) is a 3,300-pound, computerized, underwater vehicle that makes its own decisions. With more than 100 sensors, 36 onboard computers, and 16 thrusters and actuators, it decides where to swim, which samples to collect and how to get home."

Primordial Soup Cook Dies

Father of 'Origin of Life' Chemistry at UC San Diego Dies

"Stanley L. Miller, an emeritus professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego whose famous laboratory experiments in 1952 demonstrated how the simple organic compounds considered necessary for the origin of life could have been synthesized on the primitive Earth, died yesterday. He was 77."

Evidence of an Ancient - and Wet - Mars Discovered

NASA Mars Rover Spirit Unearths Surprise Evidence of Wetter Past

"This is some of the best evidence Spirit has found for water at Gusev," said Albert Yen, a geochemist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. One possible origin for the silica could have been interaction of soil with acid vapors produced by volcanic activity in the presence of water. Another could have been from water in a hot spring environment. The latest discovery adds compelling new evidence for ancient conditions that might have been favorable for life, according to members of the rover science team. David Des Marais, an astrobiologist at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., said, "What's so exciting is that this could tell us about environments that have similarities to places on Earth that are clement for organisms."

First Habitable Extrasolar Planet Discovered

Astronomers find first habitable Earth-like planet, ESO

"Astronomers have discovered the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, an exoplanet with a radius only 50% larger than the Earth and capable of having liquid water. Using the ESO 3.6-m telescope, a team of Swiss, French and Portuguese scientists discovered a super-Earth about 5 times the mass of the Earth that orbits a red dwarf, already known to harbour a Neptune-mass planet. The astronomers have also strong evidence for the presence of a third planet with a mass about 8 Earth masses."

Another Cool Thing for NASA PAO To Ignore

NASA's robotic sub readies for dive into Earth's deepest sinkhole, Carnegie Mellon University

"Bill Stone, leader of the NASA-funded Deep Phreatic Thermal Explorer (DEPTHX) mission, said the 2.5-meter-diameter vehicle performed "phenomenally well" during early February tests in the geothermal sinkhole, or cenote, known as La Pilita. Carnegie Mellon University researchers developed the software that guided the DEPTHX craft. ... NASA has funded the mission to develop and test technologies that might someday be used to explore the oceans hidden under the icy crust of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons."

Editor's note: A very cool mission - one that embodies a synergistic overlap of science, operations, and exploration. And what does NASA PAO do? As has been the case with NEEMO: nothing.

Deep/Underwater Cave Environments: Comments by William Stone at the First NASA Risk and Exploration Symposium

"You do not get Brownie points for having your name on a tombstone. You have to come back. With that in mind, I have actually taken a lot of cues from how NASA trains its astronauts when preparing for, and staffing, expeditions. In the subterranean world, where we are about to go, it is a gloves-off environment. The exploration front is now getting to the stage where it is so remote and so difficult to reach that no matter what technology we have at our disposal, and no matter how Olympically-trained and fit the people are who are involved with it, we still get stopped. Every time you go for four or five months in the field, if you're lucky, you're a kilometer or two deeper into the planet. I am going to try to give you an idea here just what this world is like. I'm going to show here what would be the equivalent of summitting Everest and K2, but it's all going to be in one continuous trip proceeding down, in order to give you a sequential feel for the logistics and remoteness."

Stone Aerospace -- Design Philosophy (cool photos)

"StoneAerospace is a Texas-based company dedicated to the exploration and commercialization of the frontiers we know of and the discovery of the ones yet to come. We develop the tools needed to explore the frontier, to survive and work in it, to characterize it, and to exploit it."

Today's NASA YouTube Feature: The GeneSat-1 Journey

Editor's note: Late last year, NASA ARC's GeneSat-1 was launched from Wallops Flight Facility. This small satellite was unqiue in many ways for a NASA project - it's small size - and it's payload - cutting edge genomics instrumentation. In addition, the operation of the spacecraft had a hefty student component. (See GeneSat News)

These three YouTube videos document many of the activities by these students at Santa Clara University and their participation in the GeneSat-1 mission.

SMD Budget Briefing: Giggling and Bad Preparation

Editor's 7 Feb update: Dwayne Brown at PAO got me the answer about Astrobiology funding: FY07: $31.3 million; FY08: $31.9 million.

Editor's 5 Feb note: A press briefing and telecon was held Monday afternoon with Science Mission Directorate AA Mary Cleave and her senior staff. I asked SMD's Planetary Science Division's Michael New what the funding situation would be for Astrobiology in FY 2008. At first he seemed a little unsure. Then he answered that it would be similar to what happened in FY 2007. No budget numbers were offered.

When I asked him (again) for specific funding numbers for the FY 2008 budget he paused, looking a little bewildered, and said that he did not know. Several of Cleave's staff then whispered between themselves, pointed to several 4-inch thick budget briefing documents, and then said that they did not know either. PAO's Dwayne Brown will be getting back to me with numbers.

Throughout the course of the briefing, even though Brian Berger (Space News) and I were in the room - indeed, at the same table as Cleave et al - Cleave and her staff openly chuckled, shook their heads, and made other strange faces when reporters asked questions by telephone. At one point I was tempted to record their antics with my cellphone.

Given the uproar cuts in Astrobiology received last year, one would think that Michael New would have seen that question coming and done a little more homework. Moreover, despite having two huge budget document in front of them, I am astonished that either no information was in those binders regarding Astrobiology funding - or that the staff were unable to find it if it was there.

Add in the dismissive gestures that Cleave's staff offered when questions were asked by people who were not present in the room to see such gestures, and I can only hope that Mary Cleave's replacement will be able to instill a little more professionalism among the SMD senior staff.

Worden on Science and Missions

Pete Worden 'Ames' for the Moon and Beyond , Science

"On how scientists can help: I'm an advocate of small, fast missions that could do 80% of the capability for 10% of the cost. What would be useful is for the scientific community to prioritize missions within the budget we've got, so we can get more science, better science, by doing more smaller missions and fewer bigger ones."

On exploration versus science: We are faced with a crisis in exploration. The vehicle we have is being phased out for a lot of good reasons, and there's an investment to make. Once the shuttle is phased out, I would anticipate scientific opportunities will go up quickly with a much more flexible system."

GeneSat-1 Mission Continues As Planned

Mission Status Report: GeneSat-1 Status Report: 19 Dec 2006 12 noon PST (Mission Day 4; Biology Experiment Day 2)

"The results to this point are nothing short of SPECTACULAR!! All the subsystems appear to be performing flawlessly. Optics are making stable measurements, fluidics have fed the E. coli, the bugs are growing well and GLOWING, temperature, pressure, and humidity are stable at the right values."

Mission Status Report: NASA Starts Experiment on Orbiting GeneSat-1 Satellite

Mission Status Report: NASA's Orbiting GeneSat-1 Radios Date to Team on Earth

GeneSat-1 is Operational

Mission Status Report: NASA's Orbiting GeneSat-1 Radios Date to Team on Earth

"The GeneSat-1 ground control station at NASA Ames will receive data radioed from the micro-laboratory after it has completed its observations and tests of the bacteria inside. The biological test will last only 96 hours, but the GeneSat-1 team will evaluate the stability of the orbiting payload's systems for four months to a year. The Small Spacecraft Office at NASA's Ames teamed up with industry and local universities to develop the fully automated, miniature GeneSat spaceflight system that provides life support for small living things."

GeneSat Mission Dashboard, Santa Clara University

GeneSat1, Real Time Satellite Tracking, NORAD ID: 29655 Int'l Code: 2006-058C

Where is GenSat1?

GeneSat Launched

NASA's GeneSat-1 Reaches Orbit on Air Force Rocket

"NASA's GeneSat-1 rode an Air Force rocket into Earth orbit on Dec. 16, 2006 at 4 a.m. PST (7 a.m. EST) from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va. The satellite's locator beacon has been detected, and data has been received as GeneSat-1 orbits Earth, according to scientists."

View Launch Video

Editor's 17 Dec 11:00 am EST update: GeneSat was launched more than 24 hours ago - yet ARC still hasn't bothered to up date its own website to make note of this rather important event. The ARC home page has a link that says "GeneSat-1 Set to Launch on TacSat-2 Mission" and the GeneSat home page itself (which the NASA press release tells you to visit) still says "TacSat2 launch delayed due to technical issue with the TacSat2 spacecraft." ARC PAO certainly knows that the launch has happened. However, it would seem that they don't really care to let people know. Too bad. Smallsats such as this mission could mean a lot of exciting new work at ARC.

Editor's 17 Dec 8:00 pm EST update: ARC PAO finally got around to updating their websites to reflect a major news story affecting their center. If ARC wants to be positioned at the cutting edge of Internet technology ARC PAO is going to need to learn how to be able to update their website after hours and on weekends.

Are There Martians On Earth?

Was Earth Ever Infected by Martian Biota? Clues from Radioresistant Bacteria, Astrobiology

"Here we propose that the radioresistance (tolerance to ionizing radiation) observed in several terrestrial bacteria has a martian origin. Multiple inconsistencies with the current view of radioresistance as an accidental side effect of tolerance to desiccation are discussed. Experiments carried out 25 years ago were reproduced to demonstrate that "ordinary" bacteria can develop high radioresistance ability after multiple cycles of exposure to high radiation dosages followed by cycles of recovery of the bacterial population."

Another Reason Not To Cut Astrobiology

NASA Scientists Find Primordial Organic Matter in Tagish Lake Meteorite

"Organic matter in meteorites is a subject of intense interest because this material formed at the dawn of the Solar System and may have seeded the early Earth with the building blocks of life. The Tagish Lake meteorite is especially valuable for this work because much of it was collected immediately after its fall over Canada in 2000 and has been maintained in a frozen state, minimizing terrestrial contamination. The collection and curation of the meteorite samples preserved its pristine state."

Outspoken: Mike Griffin on the NASA budget," Nature

"Deep cuts to NASA astrobiology - Griffin: "I did think astrobiology was less important than traditional space science. It had less intrinsic subject matter to it, and was less advanced."

Statement by Baruch S. Blumberg at the Opening of the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe

"The President's Vision for Space Exploration requires astrobiology as a major, if not principle, science support. The National Research Council report, An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs, and NASA's Advisory Council noted that astrobiology informs many of NASA's missions and has a powerful appeal to students."

Astrobiology 101

The Astrobiology Primer: An Outline of General Knowledge - Version 1, 2006

"The Astrobiology Primer has been created as a reference tool for those who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology. The field incorporates many diverse research endeavors, but it is our hope that this slim volume will present the reader with all he or she needs to know to become involved and to understand, at least at a fundamental level, the state of the art."

Astrobiology Update

Director's Corner - Message from NASA Astrobiology Institute Director Carl Pilcher, NAI

"The clearest expression that astrobiology doesn't "measure up" comes from the Administrator of NASA himself, Mike Griffin. Mike has testified before Congress that he does not see astrobiology as having the same importance as other components of the NASA science portfolio. He's also been quoted as saying that it has less intrinsic subject matter, is less advanced, and that its questions are more vague. Shortly before I left NASA Headquarters I had the opportunity to have an "elevator conversation" with Mike about some of his perceptions about astrobiology."

Saving Astrobiology

Carl Sagan Center Formed to Study Life in the Universe

"The proposed 50-percent cut in the NASA Astrobiology budget for 2007 is a clear reminder of how volatile government support for science can be,'' said Hubbard, former director of NASA Ames Research Center. "Our immediate goal is to raise $4-6M over the next 3 years so that we can sustain our top researchers. The longer term vision is to establish endowed chairs and create additional laboratory capabilities," Hubbard stated. As the Sagan Chair, Hubbard will provide ongoing strategic guidance for the new Center."

Space Life Science Is Still Enabling Technology

Astronaut Collapses During Ceremony, AP

"An astronaut from the space shuttle Atlantis collapsed twice Friday during a welcome home ceremony, a wobbly return that officials attributed to the adjustment from 12 days at zero gravity. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper left the hangar at Ellington Field through a side door but was not taken to a hospital. Officials said she was doing fine."

Editor's note: Just in case some of you (like Mike Griffin) out there think that space life science issues have all been settled ...

John Rummel New Senior Scientist for Astrobiology

NASA HQ Internal Memo: John Rummel To Become Senior Scientist for Astrobiology at NASA SMD Planetary Sciences Division

"Taking Carl [Pilcher's] place will be Dr. John D. Rummel. As Senior Scientist for Astrobiology in SMD's Planetary Sciences Division, John will have overall program management responsibility for the Astrobiology Program, including the NAI and other activities in astrobiology and exobiology research and analysis, astrobiology instruments development, and programs to test and validate the performance of such instruments in a variety of analog field environments considered "extreme" for life on Earth."

More Earths Than Previously Thought

Earth-like Planets May Be More Common Than Once Thought, University of Colorado at Boulder

"More than one-third of the giant planet systems recently detected outside Earth's solar system may harbor Earth-like planets, many covered in deep oceans with potential for life, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Pennsylvania State University. ... The new research effort may allow planet hunters to determine "rough limits" indicating where to search for habitable planets in known systems of giant planets, according to the team, whose research was funded by NASA's Astrobiology Institute headquartered at the NASA Ames Research Center."

Editor's note: And NASA's response to exciting astrobiology discoveries such as this? Why, they continue to cut astrobiology funding, of course.

Reader note: "Maybe we can do earth science in NASA as long as its not on our own Earth..."

NAI Gets a New Director

NASA Ames Announces Change in Astrobiology Management

"Dr. Carl Pilcher, senior scientist for astrobiology at NASA Headquarters, Washington, has been appointed director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) based at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The appointment is effective Sept. 18, 2006."

Great News for NCSU, Great Loss for NASA

NASA analyst to take helm of NCSU's graduate school, Triangle Business Journal

"North Carolina State University on Wednesday named a NASA senior policy analyst as dean of its graduate school. Terri Lomax, who also works as a professor at Oregon State University, will take over the helm of the NCSU Graduate School on Oct. 1. She succeeds Robert Sowell, who retired in June after a 36-year career with the university."

Mike Griffin's Latest Comments About Astrobiology

Mars Society conference report: Griffin and Elon not ready for K2 summit push, MountEverest.net

"How do we motivate students to study astrobiology if this science is not favored in the budget?" asked a teacher. "If they want to work for government money, they must look at what the government wants - not what they think it should want. If they want to work with something the government doesn't want, they'll have to find other money to fund it," Griffin stated."

Nature Magazine on NASA Science Priorities

No more protection, editorial, Nature (subscription)

"It is bad enough that Earth science at NASA has already fallen victim to cuts and cancellations — as has, for what its worth, astrobiology. Now an important rhetorical basis for resisting more attrition has been removed, feeding fears that a real understanding of how the climate works is not high on the administration's agenda. Earth sciences are still well represented in NASA's plans, but they have been symbolically set aside to further a vision that looks only outwards, never back."

NASA threatens to axe science on space station, Nature (subscription)

"I can't believe that they would discuss this with a straight face," says former NASA employee Keith Cowing, who broke the story on his website, NASA Watch."

Starving Science to Pay For Exploration

Meanwhile, Back on Earth - NASA climate-change research should not suffer because the president wants to go to Mars, Editorial, Washington Post

"NASA is facing a real fiscal crisis. Even though the White House is demanding more, it hasn't given the space agency the funding it needs to build a launcher for the moon mission, pay an unexpectedly large bill for repairing the space shuttle and do everything else it committed to before Mr. Bush's Mars announcement. According to the space agency, NASA is diverting a little over $3 billion from its science research budget over five years."

GeneBox Update

A Closer Look at NASA's GeneBox Payload, SpaceRef

"This first flight of Genesis is primarily a proof of concept mission for larger inflatable modules. However, it also carries some interesting scientific hardware, which could serve as the basis for future small free flying satellites - often referred to as smallsats or nanosats. Named "GeneBox", this small payload was developed by NASA Ames Research Center to test out new ways to perform in-flight genomic analysis of living systems. Indeed, much of what is being flown aboard this satellite is cutting edge biotech - the likes of which have yet to fly aboard the International Space Station. Future versions will be even more capable."

Interesting Additions to the SSB

Editor's note: The Space Studies Board has been revising its membership. It is interesting to note that in light of NASA's continued cuts to astrobiology and space life science that the SSB has added Jack Farmer from Arizona State University, an astrobiologist and James Pawelczyk from Pennsylvania State University, a Neurolab astronaut and physiologist. Also, former NASA Administrator Richard Truly has joined and Tom Young is now the vice-chair of the SSB. Of course Lennard A. Fisk retains his chairmanship.

Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse Webcams Online

Editor's note: The Mars Institute's Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse on Devon Island now has two webcams available for public viewing. One camera shows a view of the greenhouse and surroundings from the outside and the other shows some of the internal plant growth trays. Images are updated once a day. Click on image to enlarge

Greenhouse Webcam 1

Greenhouse Webcam 2

Follow The Water

NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Gullied Recesses

"This image shows gullies on the wall of a martian south mid-latitude impact crater. The channels in each gully head beneath an eroding overhang of layered rock, providing support for the hypothesis that some—if not all—martian gullies result from release of groundwater to the surface."

Perils of Arctic Research

Like Mars, but with polar bears, Nunatsiaq News

"The greenhouse is rigged with gadgets that monitor and water the plants — mostly lettuce, with basil, radish and zucchini — automatically. "The greenhouse this past winter was visited by polar bears," [Pascal] Lee said as he prepared to board a flight from Iqaluit to Resolute Bay last Thursday. "They knocked a big hole in the side of it." This season they'll give robotic gardening another try, along with other experiments."

Astrobiology.Net Now Online

Devon Island Greenhouse Update

Research Activities in the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse - July 2006 Update

"Our autonomous greenhouse in the Arctic produces and manages its own power, has its own communications system for command and telemetry, and a robust data acquisition and control system for making measurements and maintaining the environment in the greenhouse. This project began in 2002 and every year we improve the systems and make them more reliable and more robust."

Cutting Edge Biology Aboard Genesis

Bigelow Spacecraft Carries NASA 'GeneBox' for Tests in Orbit, NASA ARC

"During this mission, we are verifying this new, small spacecraft's systems and our procedures," said John Hines, the GeneBox project manager at NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, where scientists and engineers designed and built GeneBox. "GeneBox is an example of a low-cost spacecraft model that we hope will provide a short turn-around time for scientists, is responsive to their needs and that we feel will contribute to the Vision for Space Exploration."

Editor's note: I find it interesting to note that at the same time that NASA is abandoning much of the cutting edge space biology research that was planned for the ISS, that the private sector seems to be developing an interest in this research - aboard a private space station.

Another Reason Why ISS Is Important For Exploration

One therapeutic dose of radiation causes 30 percent spongy bone loss in mice, American Physiological Society

"Astronauts lose 2% of bone mass for each month they are exposed to the effects of microgravity. So far, astronauts have not been exposed to the increased radiation of outer space, but that will change when they undertake a proposed 30-month trip to Mars, Bateman said. NASA has focused on radiation's cancer-causing properties and its ability to compromise the central nervous and immune systems. But the effect on bone health is an unexamined concern."

Editor's update: I am certain Bob Zubrin will fire out yet another ill-informed rant about how these experts don't know what they are talking about. C'mon Bob, fire away.

Bob Zubrin Steps In It Again, earlier post

NASA Quest Spacewardbound Field Reports

"We drove a half hour out of town to the first transect site. The teachers separated and went with different scientist to collect samples of the rocks and soil. Our sampling tools consisted of sterile spoons, plastic gloves and zip-lock baggies. The scientists are all passionate about their work here and the teachers are excited to be doing real science along side the scientists. We were still working out the kinks of cooperation and communication. We kept hearing the term "herding cats", which was a good description of the progress of our group."

Cutting Enabling Science at NASA

NASA's Science Mission Aborted, Technology Review

"Although the International Space Station remains a budgetary priority, some scientists feel that its usefulness for carrying out scientific research has already been diminished, by, for example, the cancellation of a large centrifuge seen as essential for biological research. That cancellation, says Keith Cowing of the watchdog website NASA Watch, will "set back the ability" to develop ways to prevent the loss of muscle and bone by astronauts in prolonged weightlessness. And yet, he says, President Bush's exploration initiative is supposed to be leading toward trips to "Mars and beyond," where such measures will be essential."

U of M study examines kidney stone prevention in astronauts

"At least 14 American crew members have developed kidney stones in the last 5 years, and as missions become longer, the number is likely to grow. While astronauts have exercised in space to attempt to combat bone loss, the lack of gravity makes it difficult to achieve enough resistance to maintain their pre-flight fitness levels."

Being There

Astrobiology Field Report from Dale Andersen 19 June 2006

"Keith: We arrived in Resolute Friday evening but we are still in here awaiting better weather. Its been cloudy with periods of light snow and rain along with low cloud and fog so getting north has been a bit problematic. But that is life in the fast lanes... We may try to get up to Eureka later today but I am not betting the farm. Hard to believe that we started blogging from the McMurdo Dry Valleys in the Antarctic nearly ten years ago. I know that "blog" along with the images have been available online at your astrobiology website since."

This Is How to Groom The Next Generation of Space Explorers

Spaceward Bound program in Atacama Desert, NASA ARC

"What are seven NASA Explorer School teachers doing in the Atacama desert in Chile? They are studying side-by-side with NASA scientists who search for life in extreme environments, closely approximating what they expect to find on other planets. Why the Atacama -- an inhospitable, seemingly lifeless, sun drenched spot that is probably the driest place on Earth?"

Field Season On Devon Island Approaches

Editor's note: The Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse woke up several weeks ago. Located at the Mars Institute's HMP Research Station on Devon Island, this greenhouse has several webcams located inside which are now sending back images on a more or less daily basis. Webcam 2 looks south at the growing trays. Webcam 3 looks north at the heating system. Note: ignore the date stamp on these webcam images - apparently both cameras lost track of time during the several months of darkness when they were inactive.

During fall 2005 there was some unusual activity in and around the greenhouse and the report listed below describes what is known to date. Another update to this report will follow soon.

- 2005 Preliminary Fall Report (PDF)
- Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse Update, July 20, 2005
- Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse (ACMG): Frequently Asked Questions

Life Science Brain Drain Continues

Guy Fogleman, Ph.D. To Become FASEB Executive Director

"Dr. Fogleman was formerly Director of the Biomedical Research Division and Associate Director for Human Health and Performance at NASA, where he led NASA's biomedical and biological science and technology programs."

Space Science Update

NRC Report: An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs

"Astrobiology provides the intellectual connections between otherwise disparate enterprises. NASA's astrobiology program creates an integrated whole and supports the basic interdisciplinary nature of the field. Further, the Vision is, at its heart, largely an astrobiology vision with regard to the science emphasis"

NAC Science Committee Presentation

NASA Advisory Council Science Committee Presentation 18 May 2006

Astrobiology

- These scientific investigations support NASA's strategic goals. In addition, this program is particularly attractive to the general public.

- Science Committee recommendation: NASA's Astrobiology Program shuld have been treated in the same way as any other R&A program, and should be in future planning.

Images From Devon Island

Editor's note: The Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse woke up several weeks ago. Located at the Mars Institute's HMP Research Station on Devon Island, this greenhouse has several webcams located inside which are now sending back images on a more or less daily basis. Webcam 2 looks south at the growing trays. Webcam 3 looks north at the heating system. Note: ignore the date stamp on these webcam images - apparently both cameras lost track of time during the several months of darkness when they were inactive.

During fall 2005 there was some unusual activity in and around the greenhouse and the report listed below describes what is known to date. Another update to this report will follow soon.

- 2005 Preliminary Fall Report (PDF)
- Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse Update, July 20, 2005
- Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse (ACMG): Frequently Asked Questions

Astrobiology-flavored Events Next Week on the Hill

25 May: - Capitol Hill Reception: 45th Anniversary of President Kennedy's Apollo Speech To Congress
- "Europa: Mystery of the Ice Moon" Capitol Hill Preview

NAC Chairman Expresses Interest in Flying Cancelled Centrifuge

Space to Breathe: Astrobiology Magazine Interview With Apollo Astronaut Harrison Schmitt

"AM: But the immediate adaptation to the environment, such as how gravity affects the way bones develop...

HS: Well, maybe. But again, there are ways to counter that, such as exercise. But one of the things we don't know is how much gravity the human body needs. We haven't done that kind of research in orbit. Hopefully we'll figure out a way to fly the Japanese centrifuge so we can create artificial gravity and find out what the breakpoint is. Is it one-sixth Earth's gravity? Three-eights? So it may not to be an issue on Mars. On the other hand, if it turns out to be an issue, then you look at ways of stimulating bone deposition."

Astrobiology 2.0

Saving Astrobiology at NASA

"Astrobiology emerged at a time when NASA was in a state of flux and ARC and other field centers were faced with possible closure or drastic cutbacks. The community that formed around this nascent program at ARC turned adversity and uncertainty into opportunity and built a rich program out of that chaos. Now tough times are here again. Take a hard look at astrobiology and don't be afraid to respond to this challenge by looking at ways to make it more efficient as well as more relevant to the President's stated vision."

What Griffin Thinks - and the Academy Says - About Astrobiology

Outspoken: Mike Griffin on the NASA budget," Nature

Deep cuts to NASA astrobiology - Griffin: "I did think astrobiology was less important than traditional space science. It had less intrinsic subject matter to it, and was less advanced. If the community rises up and says it should be funded, we'll rethink it."

NASA Lacks Resources Needed to Sustain Vigorous Science Program, National Academy of Sciences

Report: "An assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs" [excerpt Page 20]: "The decadal surveys for astrophysics and for solar system exploration both embraced astrobiology as a key component of their programs, with the questions encompassed by astrobiology serving as overarching themes for the programs as a whole. The missions put forward in the solar system exploration survey are all key missions in astrobiology, whether they are labeled as such or not. And issues and missions related to astrobiology represent one of the key areas of interest identified in the astronomy and astrophysics communities.

Astrobiology provides the intellectual connections between otherwise disparate enterprises. NASA’s astrobiology program creates an integrated whole and supports the basic interdisciplinary nature of the field. Further, the Vision is, at its heart, largely an astrobiology vision with regard to the science emphasis. In developing the future of the program, the missions actually feed forward from the basic science. Astrobiology is just beginning the type of synthesis and integration that will allow it to provide science input for future mission development. Without it, the science and the scientific personnel will not be in place to support the missions when they do fly.

At a time of increasing desire for cross-disciplinary programs, astrobiology represents an outstanding example of the development of a successful new interdisciplinary area."

Astrobiology Update

Joint meeting of the Committee on Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars and the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life

May 10, 2006 - 8:45 a.m. Astrobiology Status Report - Carl Pilcher, NASA Headquarters

Astrobiology Update

Joint meeting of the Committee on Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars and the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - OPEN SESSION - 8:45 a.m. Astrobiology Status Report - Carl Pilcher, NASA Headquarters

- NASA Astrobiology Program Status, NASA
- NASA Astrobiology in Peril - Update and Action Suggestions, SETI Institute
- NASA Bungles Yet Another Attempt to Communicate, NASA Watch
- NASA Reverses Astrobiology Funding Pledge, NASA Watch
- Earlier NASA Watch Astrobiology postings

NASA Bungles Yet Another Attempt to Communicate

Editor's note: What follows below is the strange sequence of steps NASA Headquarters has decided to take with regard to funding for NASA's Astrobiology Program. In a nutshell, NASA officials publicy stated last week that they were going to add money back to the previously-cut Astrobiology program. Then, at an internal meeting 3 days later, they changed their mind - but did not tell anyone. Only a week after the erroneous public remarks were made did they say anything - and then they only did so via an obscure update on a NASA website that one needs to be guided to in order to find. Once again, NASA has demonstrated its lack of concern for the interests of its research community and has made a mockery of its new communications policy by ignoring its core intent and purpose.

Editor's note: 30 March 2006 NASA Watch posting:

Monday morning, at the opening session of the Astrobiology Science Conference in Washington DC, NASA Watch reported that Andrew Dantzler, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQ told 700 astrobiologists that the proposed FY 2007 cuts in Astrobiology did not sit well with the research community noting that "it was was not a good shot [at a budget] - we could have done better". He then said that based on input he had been receiving that it was "clear that we should money back [into Astrobiology]" and that "we have decided to put money back - and we will be doing that as soon as we can." Carl Pilcher repeated this claim at the conference later that day.

Reliable sources now report that at a Science Mission Directorate monthly meeting at NASA HQ today it was noted that no additional funds will be given to Astrobiology and that someone is going to have to go tell the astrobiologists that the claim made by Dantzler and Pilcher is not true.

Editor's note: Not having seen anything from NASA on its own volition, I submitted the following request last weekend.

From: Keith Cowing
Subject: Clarification on Astrobiology cuts/addbacks
Date: April 1, 2006 9:31:10 PM EST
To: Carl Pilcher, Andrew Dantzler
Cc: Dean Acosta, Mary Cleave, David Mould, Colleen Hartman, Joe Davis

Carl:

At the Astrobiology Science Conference on Monday of last week you and Andy spoke of the need to reverse the proposed cuts to Astrobiology and to add money back. You repeated that pledge and went into some additional detail in a NASA Town Meeting at the conference - one you asked to be held.

On Thursday of last week, just a few days after those comments, reliable sources inform me that this topic was raised at the SMD monthly and that, in fact, this announcement was made in error and that this misconception would need to be corrected.

1. Will additional funds be added back to Astrobiology as you detailed at the Astrobiology Science Conference?

2. If these funds are not to be added - when was the decision upon which you made your announcements made - and when was the subsequent decision made to reverse that pledge - and who made those decisions?

3. Given that NASA civil servants made these pledges at a NASA conference - one open to the news media and the public - will NASA HQ be issuing a formal statement of clarification - in concert with the agency's new communications policy?

Editor's note: I got this reply back at the close of business on 4 April 2006:

From: Grey Hautaluoma
Subject: Astrobiology information
Date: April 4, 2006 5:08:53 PM EDT
To: Keith Cowing
Cc: Dean Acosta, Jason Sharp

Information regarding Astrobiology and other research funding has been posted to NASA's ROSES Web site, the source for information about NASA research opportunities.

The ROSES-2006 homepage may be found by going to the NASA research opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Select "Solicitations" then select "Open Solicitations" then select "NNH06ZDA001N ROSES-2006." Under "Other Documents," select "Note from NASA: Funding for the SMD R&A Program, including Astrobiology (April 4, 2006)."

Grey Hautaluoma
NASA Headquarters
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 358-0668

Editor's note: This is the document mentioned in the email:

Note to the Community: Funding for the Science Mission Directorate Research and Analysis (R&A) Program, including Astrobiology

April 4, 2006

The proposed NASA budget (NASA's proposed FY06 operating plan and the President's proposed FY07 budget) identifies a reduced level of growth for the Science Mission Directorate, relative to the runout of the President's proposed FY06 budget. In order to plan an executable program within the total funding proposed for SMD, we have had to make decisions on the appropriate mix of flight programs, research and development, and other program components. The reduction in research funding is directly related to the slowing rate of growth of SMD programs. Because there will be fewer missions within SMD, a larger body of advanced research and development to prepare for future missions is not required.

Astrobiology research funding is reduced in the budget for several reasons. It should also be noted that astrobiology experienced a rapid growth in funding several years ago. Prior to this reduction, the Astrobiology research budget was comparable to the astrophysics research budget and was almost double the heliophysics research budget. This reduction brings it more into balance with the rest of the research program. In addition, the lower flight rate for astrobiology related missions (e.g. fewer Mars missions in the next 5 years, delay for a Europa orbiter mission, delay for a Terrestrial Planet Finder mission etc.), plus the recognition that human exploration missions to Mars are further in the future than previously assumed, have reduced some of the urgency for rapid progress in astrobiology research. Astrobiology remains one of the larger disciplines and an important area of research in support of NASA's program.

Both Mike Griffin and Mary Cleave, in Congressional testimony, Town Meetings with the community and elsewhere have said that we will listen to the science community's advice regarding the program mix and R&A. We tried to get the mix right, but if we can do better, we can propose changes through updates to the operating plan. In consultation with the science community, through the NASA Advisory Council (NAC), we are studying the R&A and program mix. This advice will help NASA set priorities for funding missions and research within a fixed bottom-line budget. Any advice that indicates that a smaller, or perhaps no, reduction in research funding is a high priority for NASA should also indicate which mission budgets are lower priority. Such advice should be within the context of priorities set in the appropriate NAS decadal surveys. This will be a prime topic of discussion with the NAC science subcommittees when they meet later this spring. In our communications with the science community, we have indicated the changes that must be made to support the proposed NASA budget. At the same time, it is not our intent to preclude any options prior to the receipt of findings and recommendations from our advisory committees. We expect to release a decision on R&A funding by early summer.

Editor's note: This is my response back to PAO:

From: Keith Cowing
Subject: Re: Astrobiology information
Date: April 4, 2006 5:29:17 PM EDT
To: Dean Acosta, Grey Hautaluoma, Jason Sharp
Cc: Andrew Datzler, Carl Pilcher, Mary Cleave, Colleen Hartman

There is no mention in this document whatsoever of the funding increase that Andy Dantzler and Carl Pilcher specifically mentioned in front of hundreds of people at the Astrobiology Science Conference. If you'd like I can provide you with an audio recording of those comments.

Given that this note is in response to my query for detail on the proposed funding increases that Dantzler and Pilcher spoke of, I am assuming that lack of any mention of that topic in this formal NASA reply - and that lack of any mention of additional funds in the document you have referred me to - is indicative of the fact that these comments were made in error, that NASA never intended to increase Astrobiology funds back from previously announced cuts, and that NASA is unwilling /unable to openly admit this error in public to the scientific community affected by these cuts.

Thanks for your prompt - if incomplete - reply.

NASA Reverses Astrobiology Funding Pledge

Editor's note: Monday morning, at the opening session of the Astrobiology Science Conference in Washington DC, NASA Watch reported that Andrew Dantzler, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQ told 700 astrobiologists that the proposed FY 2007 cuts in Astrobiology did not sit well with the research community noting that "it was was not a good shot [at a budget] - we could have done better". He then said that based on input he had been receiving that it was "clear that we should money back [into Astrobiology]" and that "we have decided to put money back - and we will be doing that as soon as we can." Carl Pilcher repeated this claim at the conference later that day.

Reliable sources now report that at a Science Mission Directorate monthly meeting at NASA HQ today it was noted that no additional funds will be given to Astrobiology and that someone is going to have to go tell the astrobiologists that the claim made by Dantzler and Pilcher is not true.

Astrobiology Funding Update

Funds for hunting extraterrestrial life restored by NASA, New Scientist

"Researchers said NASA was responding to protests from scientists and lawmakers and called for the pressure to continue. "It seems to me that instead of going away quietly with what we were given, we ought to be emboldened to ask for more," said Jill Tarter, [SETI Institute]."

Editor's note: At a "NASA Town Meeting" held on Monday night at this conference, Carl Pilcher said - several times - when asked why these budget cuts were made in the first place, that he did not know wny and that he was "pleading ignorance". When pushed by several questioners to elaborate, he said "that's all I can tell you". This was rather bizzare - and insulting - to many in attendance since Pilcher actually requested that this "NASA Town Meeting" be held in the first place. The reason the event was requested was so that Pilcher could address this specific issue. Yet he could not even explain how the decision to cut Astrobiology was made - or why it was made. Either Pilcher was unable to get a formal answer from his boss, Mary Cleave; he did not bother to ask; or he knows but is not allowed to say. Regardless of the reason, Pilcher's non-response fell flat on the hundreds in attendance.

NASA Astrobiology PI's Speak Out

Astrobiology Serves NASA and The National Interest - Statement Prepared by Principal Investigators of the NASA Astrobiology Institute

"Astrobiology is the interdisciplinary study of the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth and in the universe. It melds the understanding of life on Earth, the nature of our solar system and its potential to support life, and the search for habitable environments and life on planets around other stars. The President's budget calls for cuts to the NASA astrobiology program that would abdicate U.S. leadership and threaten our capabilities in this field."

Astrobiology Science Conference Update

Editor's note: This morning, at the opening session of the Astrobiology Science Conference, Andrew Dantzler, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQ noted that the proposed FY 2007 cuts in Astrobiology did not sit well with the research community noting that "it was was not a good shot [at a budget] - we could have done better". He then said that based on input he had been receiving that it was "clear that we should money back [into Astrobiology]" and that "we have decided to put money back - and we will be doing that as soon as we can." As to the specifics of the Astrobiology funds restoration, Carl Pilcher will be discussing that at an evening session tonight.

U.S. Astrobiologists Convene Biannual Conference Amid Devastating NASA Budget Threats, SETI Institute

"Although astrobiology is clearly one of the most exciting and productive programs in the space science portfolio, the proposed FY 2007 NASA budget inexplicably aims to disembowel astrobiology research funding with a 50% cut. An astrobiology community Town Hall meeting will be held on March 28, 2006 from 1-2 p.m., at the Ronald Reagan Building, Amphitheater. This meeting is designed to be a forum for community members to comment on the proposed cuts and the implications to the field."

Astrobiology Program Cutback Status

Astrobiology in Peril - Update and Action Suggestions

"Dear Members of the Astrobiology Community: We are writing to you again to offer some thoughts and suggestions in advance of the upcoming AbSciCon meeting in Washington DC.  Please know that everyone, including the authors here, believes that it is important to reverse the decision to severely cut NASA's R&A budget by 15%.  It is also imperative that a focused effort be maintained to undo the inexplicable 50% cut to Astrobiology research."

Astrobiology Program Cutback Status

NASA Astrobiology Program Status

"Even at the requested FY07 funding level we will be able to support a vigorous program of astrobiology research and some technology development.  Obviously, however, it will be about half the size of the current program.  Getting from here to there will be challenging and painful.  I will seek guidance from the astrobiology community about how to approach this adjustment in the long term, but I have had to make some policy decisions regarding near term actions."

The Gutting of Astrobiology Moves Forward

ROSES-06 Amendment 5: Adjustments in ROSES-2006 to align with the NASA budget

"Specifically the proposed FY07 budget includes a 15% reduction for R&A in most disciplines and a 50% reduction in astrobiology. These budgets are sufficiently different from the planning budgets that were used to develop ROSES-2006 that adjustments are required in several ROSES-2006 program elements to be consistent with NASA's FY06 operating budget and the President's requested NASA FY07 budget."

Funding Notification Sent out by NASA Headquarters to Astrobiology Investigators

"By now you will probably have received notification that there will not be an Exobiology solicitation in ROSES-06.  Due to cuts in the FY06 Astrobiology Program budget, and the proposed cuts in the FY07 budget, the four funding lines in the Program (Exo, NAI, ASTID, and ASTEP) are under extreme pressure."

Astrobiology researcher note: "I would like to share this email I received from the Exobiology program manager at NASA HQ. This is the direct result of the recent cuts to Astrobiology. This was also my first proposal as a principal investigator. I had at least hoped that the decision to fund, or not fund, my proposal would be decided based on merit, as opposed to being a victim of misguided policy."

The Value of Astrobiology

Why the USA and NASA need astrobiology, SpaceRef

"The first activity of my Astrobiology team was to hold a graduate student conference. Astrobiology has only been a coherent activity since 1998, and the students needed an opportunity to talk together about their science. At that meeting both the students and I noticed that there was a major distinction between the students who had been broadly educated in astrobiology during their graduate career and those who had not. One group could think across fields without difficulty. The other could not."

A Curious Contributor to Deep Impact

NASA probe could reveal comet life, scientists claim, Cardiff University

"Cardiff (UK) scientists are playing a major role in a NASA mission, which they believe could reveal living matter in the icy layers beneath the surface of a comet."

Editor's note: Curiously, this university is not listed as being a member of the Deep Impact science team. So I don't quite know how they could be playing a "major role" in this NASA mission. Moreover, Dr. Wickramasinghe, the man behind this group of researchers has made repeated claims that Mad Cow disease, Influenza, and other afflictions come from outer space.

NASA Denies Life on Mars Claim (update)

Scientist at center of Mars flap speaks out, MSNBC

"... What happened next is up for debate. Stoker says neither she nor Lemke ever implied that her work could be extrapolated to suggest present life on Mars. She certainly never told anyone that a paper to that effect was about to be published in the journal Nature, she says. Several people at the party, however, later told a journalist that they had said that. The subsequent Space News article set off a brief media frenzy in mid-February that eventually led to a rare official denial from NASA."

NASA Statement on False Claim of Evidence of Life on Mars

"NASA does not have any observational data from any current Mars missions that supports this claim. The work by the scientists mentioned in the reports cannot be used to directly infer anything about life on Mars, but may help formulate the strategy for how to search for martian life. Their research concerns extreme environments on Earth as analogs of possible environments on Mars. No research paper has been submitted by them to any scientific journal asserting martian life."

Evidence of current life on Mars, BadAstronomy.com (scroll down)

"Dr. Carol Stoker wrote: A story has appeared in Space.com which quotes us inaccurately and without permission. The story is based on hearsay and is factually incorrect."

Exclusive: NASA Researchers Claim Evidence of Present Life on Mars, Space.com

"The scientists, Carol Stoker and Larry Lemke of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, told the group that they have submitted their findings to the journal Nature for publication in May, and their paper currently is being peer reviewed."

NASA: Researchers' Work May Influence Search for Mars Life, But No Evidence Yet, Space.com

"All attendees interviewed gave consistent accounts of Stoker and Lemke’s presentation to the group. Some attendees later had conflicting recollections about what exactly Stoker said about her plans to publish her research. While some said Stoker claimed she had submitted a paper to the journal Nature for publication in May, others said Stoker only mentioned that she was preparing a paper for submission to Nature."

Editor's note:OK Brian: you wrote a story based on what other people told you - and that was good enough for you and your editor to go with waving "exclusive" and then basking in all the media afterglow for having a scoop. Yet, when your story turns out to be incorrect - and NASA takes the rather unprecedented step of issuing a press release to that effect - you try and put the blame upon your hearsay sources which are now, suddenly, not as reliable as you originally thought they were. It would seem that the error lies with your reporting. Yet there is no indication or admission that anyone at Space News/Space.com made any errors in judgement. Curious.

Characterization of a Subsurface Biosphere in a Massive Sulfide Deposit at Rio Tinto, Spain: Implications for Extant Life on Mars (abstract - PDF), Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI (2005)

C.R. Stoker, T. Stevens, R. Amils, J. Gómez-Elvira, N. Rodríguez, F. Gómez, E. González-Toril, A. Aguilera, D. Fernández-Remolar, S. Dunagan6, L. Lemke, J. Zavaleta, J.L. Sanz

"The results are important since a similar type of environment may have existed on early Mars at the surface at Sinus Merdiani. Sulfide minerals could feasibly be found in the Martian subsurface today, left as a relict of ancient hydrothermalism or even actively produced by current hydrothermal activity. Borehole organisms and chemical processes involved with the interaction of groundwater and pyrite ores are producing hydrogen and methane in significant quantities. A similar subsurface chemoautotrophic biosphere could be living on Mars today and producing methane that, when released to the atmosphere, could potentially be a source for methane that has been observed in the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Express mission."

A whiff of life on the Red Planet, New Scientist

"A leading European Space Agency scientist says he has found a gas in the Martian atmosphere that he believes can only be explained by the presence of life. But the few researchers who have been privy to the facts say that such a conclusion is premature."

Editor's note:the New Scientist article does not reference the claims made in the space.com article by Stoker and Lemke - but does put the Mars Express methane discoveries into perspective. In the space.com story, Stoker and Lemke are purported to have based their conclusions, in part, on the Mars Express methane data. In addition, the New Scientist article disucsses the new detection of formaldehyde by Mars Express.

Space Biology Cuts Continue at NASA

NASA Science Funding Cut In FY 2006 Proposal, US Medicine Information Central

"We used to be the Office of Biological and Physical Research," [Terri Lomax, PhD, acting deputy associate administrator for research within Exploration Systems] said in an interview with U.S. MEDICINE. "We were doing the very best biology that you could do in space and the very best physics you could do in space. But now, we realize that we have products that we need out of our research in order to enable this ambitious exploration agenda."

A NASA Astrobiologist Bids Farewell to Antarctica

Kevin Hand's Antarctic Journal 1 March 2005

"Ok, well, this is it folks, one last email and then I'm on a plane back to LA. I've been in New Zealand for a bit and I've finally had a chance to type up my notes for this final update about our work in Antarctica. Here we go... So the last update gave you a sense of the research we're doing. Now let me give you a sense of life in the field and what it's like to live, work, and eat in the middle of nowhere in Antarctica."

Kevin Hand's Continuing Antarctic Adventure

Kevin Hand's Antarctic Journal 8 February 2005

"Ok, well, I'm back at McMurdo Station. All went very well in the field - our instruments worked great, we collected lots of data, and had an amazing time exploring a phenomenally interesting and unique little nook on planet Earth. Now for the background on what exactly we're doing."

Kevin Hand's Antarctic Journal 20 January 2005

Editor's note: Kevin is a graduate of the NASA Astrobiology Academy at ARC and is also one of the stars of James Cameron's new IMAX epic "Aliens of the Deep"

Next Gen Astrobiologist Field Journal

Kevin Hand's Antarctic Journal 20 January 2005

"Kevin Hand has just arrived in Antarctica. In the coming weeks he will travel to the Dry Valleys where he will be conducting astrobiology research. Kevin will be sending updates back to SpaceRef. This is his first update."

Editor's note: Kevin Hand is one of the young astrobiologists featured in James Cameron's soon-to-be-released IMAX fim "Aliens of the Deep" (see earlier story)

Coming 28 January to an IMAX Theater Near You

"In Aliens of the Deep, Academy Award-winning director, deep-ocean adventurer, and space-exploration visionary James Cameron invites you to join him and a team of space and ocean scientists on a journey to the depths of the ocean. You will travel to seafloor hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to see some of the most amazing rock formations and strangest life forms on our planet."

- Movie Trailer
- Official Movie website
- Educator's guide (PDF)

Editor's note: This IMAX film is directed by NASA Advisory Committee member James Cameron, and features NASA astrobiologist Pat Conrad, NASA Astrobiology Academy graduates Kevin Hand and Loretta Hildago, and NASA planetary scientist Kelly Snook.

Hints of Life's Precursors Among the Stars?

20 September 2004: Cold Sugar in Space Provides Clue to the Molecular Origin of Life, NRAO

"Astronomers using the NSF's giant Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope have discovered a frigid reservoir of simple sugar molecules in a cloud of gas and dust 26,000 light-years away, near the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. The discovery suggests how the molecular building blocks necessary for the creation of life could first form in interstellar space."

Hints of life on Present Day Mars?

20 September 2004: Water and methane maps overlap on Mars: a new clue?, ESA

"Recent analyses of ESA's Mars Express data reveal that concentrations of water vapour and methane in the atmosphere of Mars significantly overlap. This result, from data obtained by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS), gives a boost to understanding of geological and atmospheric processes on Mars, and provides important new hints to evaluate the hypothesis of present life on the Red Planet."

Should ET write - not phone - home? Or has he already placed a call?

2 September 2004: Reports of SETI@home Extraterrestrial Signal Highly Exaggerated, Planetary Society

"A rash of reports in recent days that SETI@home has discovered a likely signal from an alien civilization are highly exaggerated, says SETI@home Chief Scientist Dan Werthimer of U.C. Berkeley."

2 September 2004: Space signal studied for alien contact, Reuters

"An unexplained radio signal from deep space could -- just might be -- contact from an alien civilization, New Scientist magazine reported on Thursday."

1 September 2004: Mysterious signals from 1000 light years away, New Scientist

"It's the most interesting signal from SETI@home," says Dan Werthimer, a radio astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and the chief scientist for SETI@home. "We're not jumping up and down, but we are continuing to observe it."

1 September 2004: ET, don't phone home; drop a line instead

"Were E.T. really interested in getting in touch with home, he might be better off writing than phoning, according to Christopher Rose, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey."