This classroom activity will show students that there is a lot we don't know about science, for example life throughout the universe. It will hopefully encourage students to question what we know and don't know, and exploration and study of the unknown.

Astrobiology Survey is an introductory course on astrobiology. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach that unites the sciences and arts to study the three questions of "How does life begin and evolve?", "Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?" and "What is the future of life on Earth and beyond?"

This course is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in using primary research literature to discuss and learn about current research around sulfur biogeochemistry and astrobiology.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of Io to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on Io.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of Mars to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on Mars.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of Pluto/Charon to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on Pluto or Charon.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of The Moon to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on The Moon.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of Titan to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on Titan.

Using planetary maps, students will be able to read cartographic information and compare the environmental conditions of Venus to those Earth. They will understand the conditions needed for life to exist, and be able to explain why it cannot exist on Venus.

This NASA website provides a summary of a study led by NASA's David McKay that may provide evidence for past life on Mars. McKay and his team found carbonate globule features on the ALH84001 meteorite that appear to be nanofossils. In addition, secondary mineral phases and hydrocarbons provide further evidence for past life. The website features color photographs as well as links to related web pages.

In this collection of science activities, seven thorough lesson plans regarding distinct topics in Astrobiology are presented. Each lesson plan has direct and descriptive rationale, objectives, materials, instructions, assessments, reflections, standards, grade levels, and evaluations. The activities range in age and grade level, allowing for variations and optional add-ons. The lesson plans cover a variety of topics including extraterrestrials, the Seagar equation, the Drake equation, exoplanets, life’s essentials, NASA exploration, and NASA scientists.

Lets us look over the shoulders of scientists and glimpse the often-unseen moments of investigation. Take virtual field trips to eight observatories -- Arecibo, where astrobiologists search for signs of life beyond the solar system; Las Cuevas, a research station in Central America's largest remaining rainforest; and others. See interviews, photos, and broadcasts that explore the origins of matter, the universe, and life itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The question of whether life exists outside our planet has captivated our attention for decades. In order to understand whether life could thrive in extraterrestrial environments, researchers turn to unique locations on Earth. Analogue sites – places resembling extraterrestrial environments – can help answer questions about what types of life could live in space. A recent project – Mars Analogues for Space Exploration (MASE) – examined microbes inhabiting representative space-like environments. Researchers isolated microbes from sites including permafrost, salt mines, acidic lakes and rivers, and sulfur springs and using metagenomics, they evaluated the proportions and characteristics of these unique microbes. They successfully identified 15 high-quality genomes, pinpointing specific microbial functions enriched in MASE sites. Compared to more moderate environments, MASE-residing microorganisms expressed genes that allowed them to withstand physical and chemical pressure..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The surface of Mars is dotted with unusual pits How these pits formed is a mystery New research suggests some pits were shaped by sand and lava As winds swept across the Martian landscape large sand dunes formed The dunes were later surrounded by lava After the lava cooled, the sand blew away, leaving behind dune-shaped pits If the theory is correct there’s a lot these so-called ghost dunes could tell us about the ancient Martian environment They may even be a good starting point to look for signs of early extraterrestrial life M.D. Day and D.C. Catling. Dune Casts Preserved by Partial Burial: The First Identification of Ghost Dune Pits on Mars..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"When considering the hazards of space exploration, moon dust might not top your list But contact with lunar soil can wreak havoc on human health To better understand the toxicological properties of the dust researchers exposed neuronal and lung epithelial cell lines to samples of simulated lunar soil The samples caused widespread cell death and DNA damage in both cell lines Intriguingly, although the simulants generated free radicals their presence wasn’t correlated to the damaging impact on the cells leaving the precise mechanism of injury a mystery While the properties of actual lunar soil may differ from those of the simulants the work provides an important starting point towards understanding the biological effects brought about by visiting the moon... and maybe beyond Caston et al. (2018) Assessing Toxicity and Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Damage Caused by Exposure of Mammalian Cells to Lunar Regolith Simulants..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.