Drilling Down to Alien Oceans
A new method of exploring thick icy sheets and what lies below them has been devised. Combining a drill and a melting tip, this probe is particularly useful for exploring icy locations such as the polar caps of Mars and Jupiter’s moon Europa.

Tracing Tiger Stripes
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has pinpointed where Enceladus' icy jets erupt from at the moon's surface. The new images may help reveal what type of environment exists on the moon, and whether or not Enceladus could be a habitat for life.

Seeing Mars in a Particle of Dust
NASA's Phoenix lander has taken the first image of martian dust under a microscope. The technology will help scientists determine if Mars is, or ever was suitable for life. The achievement also highlights the capabilities of robotic microscopy on another planet.

Through a Glass Darkly
New from the Nordic issue of Astrobiology Magazine, European Edition: Just as stained glass windows that decorate the world’s most beautiful cathedrals depict stories, ancient life may have its own tales to tell in glass.

Going Looney in Space
In addition to the physical dangers of exploring the moon and Mars, future human explorers will also need to overcome many psychological challenges in order for long duration missions to be successful.

Meteorite Fast Track
The majority of asteroids that pass near the Earth have a different composition than most of the meteorites that actually hit our planet. Astronomers now think they may have figured out why this is the case.

Liquid Water in the Martian North? Maybe.
Scientists responsible for NASA's Phoenix mission were surprised to find the chemical compound perchlorate in the soil at the spacecraft's landing site. On Earth, perchlorate is commonly associated with liquid water. On Mars, however, the implication is not so clear.

Dress Rehearsal for Mars
Life-searching instruments are being tested in Rio Tinto, ready to be used as part of an upcoming mission to Mars.

Underwater Sentry
A new free-swimming robot has completed a 3.1-mile-deep trek beneath the ocean. The robot opens new possibilities for exploring the deep sea and discovering unique habitats for life.

The Rise of Slime
Human activities are having disastrous effects on the health of the world's oceans according to a new prognosis. Factors such as overfishing and climate change must be addressed in order to ensure the future health of one of our planet's most important biological resources.