Biosignatures & Paleobiology
A New Approach to SETI: Targeting Alien Polluters 
Humanity is on the threshold of being able to detect signs of alien life on other worlds. By studying exoplanet atmospheres, we can look for gases like oxygen and methane that only coexist if replenished by life.
Extrasolar Planets
Direct Imaging of Exoplanets in the Habitable Zone with Adaptive Optics
One of the primary goals of exoplanet science is to find and characterize habitable planets, and direct imaging will play a key role in this effort.
Oceanic Research
Oceans Are Vital for Life On Other Planets
New research published today in the journal Astrobiology shows the vital role of oceans in moderating climate on Earth-like planets.
Extrasolar Planets
Revision of Earth-sized Kepler Planet Candidate Properties with High Resolution Imaging by Hubble Space Telescope
We present the results of our Hubble Space Telescope program and describe how our image analysis methods were used to re-evaluate the habitability of some of the most interesting Kepler planet candidates.
Mars
Water in the Martian Regolith from OMEGA/Mars Express
Here we discuss one of the current reservoirs of water on Mars, the regolith and rocks exposed at the surface.
Extrasolar Planets
Stellar Activity Masquerading as Planets in the Habitable Zone of the M dwarf Gliese 581
The M dwarf Gliese 581 is believed to host four planets, including one (GJ 581d) near the habitable zone that could possibly support liquid water on its surface if it is a rocky planet.
Europa
NASA Seeks Proposals for Europa Mission Science Instruments
NASA has issued an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for proposals about science instruments that could be carried aboard a future mission to Jupiter's moon Europa. Selected instruments could address fundamental questions about the icy moon and the search for life beyond Earth.
Astronomy
Effects of Refraction on Transit Transmission Spectroscopy: Application to Earth-like Exoplanets
We quantify the effects of refraction in transit transmission spectroscopy on spectral absorption features and on temporal variations that could be used to obtain altitude-dependent spectra for planets orbiting stars of different stellar types.
Astrochemistry
Water Vapor in the Spectrum of the Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b
We report near-infrared spectroscopy of the gas giant planet HD 189733b in transit. We used the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (HST WFC3) with its G141 grism covering 1.1 um to 1.7 um and spatially scanned the image across the detector at 2\arcsecsā1.
Origin & Evolution of Life
Abiotic Ozone and Oxygen in Atmospheres Similar to Prebiotic Earth
The search for life on planets outside our solar system will use spectroscopic identification of atmospheric biosignatures.
Astrobiology (general)
Leading Space Experts to Discuss the Search for Life Beyond Earth
NASA Television will air a panel discussion of leading science and engineering experts on Monday, July 14, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. EDT, who will describe the scientific and technological roadmap that will lead to the discovery of potentially habitable worlds among the stars.
More top stories from July.
Recent Releases
Recent Status Reports
Calendar
- 24 Jul: #LivefromSpace: Committee to Speak with Astronauts aboard International Space Station
- 24 Jul: Ariane 5ES Launch of ESA's ATV-5
- 27 Jul: AbGradCon 2014
- 28 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Human Exploration and Operations Committee Meeting
- 28 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Technology, Innovation, and Engineering Committee Meeting
- 28 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Science Committee Meeting
- 29 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee Meeting
- 29 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Institutional Committee Meeting
- 30 Jul: NASA Advisory Council Meeting
- 30 Jul: The X-ray View of Galaxies in Compact Groups and the Coma Cluster Infall Region
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