Illuminating Life
A small, light-weight microscope that can produce high-resolution images is being developed to help astrobiologists study microbial life in some of Earth's most extreme environments. These studies can allow scientists to determine the limits of life and will help define habitable environments on other planets.

Radiation Resistant Rotifers
An animal common to marine environments on Earth has shown extreme resistance to radiation. Radiation is one of the greatest dangers for life traveling in space, and the finding could yield clues about how life might survive beyond Earth.

Frozen Life Cubes
What’s living in Antarctica’s ice-covered Lake Vostok? Scientists hope to find out by studying an ice core recovered from some two miles below the surface, just above the lake itself. But first they have to make sure they don’t contaminate their sample.

The Iceland Diaries, Part 2
Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in the second part of her journal.

The Iceland Diaries
Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in her journal.

Astrobiology Top 10: When Fungi Ruled the World
Astrobiology Magazine is looking back over 2007, highlighting the Top 10 astrobiology stories of the year. At number 6 is the discovery that 420 million years ago, fungi stood as tall as trees, reaching up to 20 feet in height. This research helps scientists better understand how life evolves over time, and also may yield clues about the relationship between ancient life and the Earth’s environment. (This story was originally published on June 18, 2007.)

Astrobiology Top 10: Brought Back to Life
Astrobiology Magazine is looking back over 2007, highlighting the Top 10 astrobiology stories of the year. At number 8 is the recovery of DNA from ancient microorganisms. The DNA showed an “exponential decline” after 1.1 million years, indicating how long DNA could be preserved in rocks in cold places. Such knowledge could help astrobiologists in their quest to understand early life on Earth and to look for life in cold places like Mars and Europa. (This story was originally published on August 15, 2007.)

Life at Hell's Gate
A new species of bacteria has been discovered in a geothermal field in New Zealand known as 'Hell's Gate'. The bacteria is the hardiest 'methanotrophic' bacteria yet discovered, and may help in the fight against global warming.

Leaving No Stone Unturned
Kimberley Warren-Rhodes has spent countless hours in some of the world’s driest deserts, turning over rocks. Tens of thousands of rocks. What is she hoping to find? The pattern of life.

Living Time Capsules
Researchers have thawed ice from Antarctica that is at least a million years old to search for eons-old microorganisms. The microbes may have survived in total darkness, freezing cold and without food or energy from the Sun.