Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds

Community composition and functional profiles of 152 samples. a, The relative abundance of archaea and bacteria in 152 samples. b, The proportion of all archaea in all samples. Bars in different colors represented different classes of archaea. c, The proportion of all bacteria in all samples. Bars in different colors represented different phyla of bacteria. d, the relative abundance of KEGG standard categories (level B) in all samples. e-f, Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of all RMAGs, archaea, bacteria, and KOs in different sites based on Bray–Curtis distances. -- biorxiv.org

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return

The Recovery Of 12,789 Genomes Revealed The Diversity, Function, And Microbial Interactions Of The Geothermal Spring Microbiome

by Keith CowingApril 12, 2026April 13, 2026

Geothermal springs, characterized by extreme physicochemical conditions, represent ecologically and evolutionarily significant habitats that foster unique microbial communities and drive adaptive evolutionary processes.

A) Subcluster of viral genomes within the family Microviridae. Network constructed using vConTACT3 and visualized in Cytoscape. Reference nodes are colored by genus (RefSeq and vConTACT3 predictions), while fumarole viruses are colored by sample site. Edges represent genesharing strength. The blue node (phiX174) forms a weakly resolved clade with fumarole viruses in the maximum-likelihood phylogeny based on major capsid protein amino acid sequences. B) Pairwise genome comparisons of RefSeq and fumarole Microviridae using local alignment (MMseqs2). The top row and left column indicate predicted genus assignments (vConTACT3) for fumarole and RefSeq viruses. The top-left quadrant shows RefSeq–RefSeq comparisons; the top-right shows fumarole–RefSeq comparisons (RefSeq colored by genus). The second row (genome source) is colored by fumarole sample site. The star denotes comparisons involving the phiX174 RefSeq genome. -- biorxiv.org

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains & Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return

Hawaiian Geothermal Fumaroles Contain Diverse and Novel Viruses

by Keith CowingApril 9, 2026April 9, 2026

Images. (A-B) Purple biofilms dominated by Gloeobacter inside a pit-like feature inside the ERZ, (C-E) green to dark green/purple biofilms found in an open area within the ERZ with various steam vents surrounding it, (F) dried up biofilm inside a cave named “Big Ell” within Kīlauea Caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, (G) dark green biofilms inside a fissure within Big Ell cave, (H) soil samples inside Big Ell -- biorxiv.org

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return

Amplicon And Metagenomic Data From Fumarole-associated Geothermal Features Of Hawai’i

by Keith CowingApril 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Illustration of the processes implemented in our model

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Venus

Investigation Of Venus’ Thermal History, Crustal Evolution, And Core Dynamics With A Coupled Interior-lithosphere-atmosphere Model

by Keith CowingMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Io, Jupiter, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds

Analysis Of Io’s tidal Response As A Function Of The Properties Of The Partially Molten Layer

by Keith CowingMarch 22, 2026March 22, 2026

The reconstructed timeframe of the YSDP-4 drill core. (A) Depth-adjusted χfd% series (gray curve)

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extinction events, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Origin & Evolution of Life, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

New Study Reveals Asynchronous Land–ocean Responses To Ancient Ocean Anoxia

by Keith CowingMarch 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Snapshots of mantle temperature and melt fraction (top row) and basalt fraction (bottom row) at 6.5 Gyr for each interior model of K2-141 b. All models show a shallow magma ocean on the dayside (left hemisphere) and a solid nightside (right hemisphere). Models without plastic yielding (MixCC, MBasal, MixIntr), exhibit upwellings at the substellar and antistellar points, with downwellings forming at the day-night terminators. MPlastic, which includes plastic yielding (lithospheric weakening), displays a more asymmetric pattern, with downwellings forming on the nightside and upwellings rising preferentially on the dayside. Videos for these model runs are available online and on Zenodo (Meier 2025). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds

Mantle Convection And Nightside Volcanism On Lava World K2-141 b

by Keith CowingMarch 8, 2026March 8, 2026

This geyser exhibits irregular behavior, sometimes erupting regularly for months, and then ceasing altogether. Echinus is a rare acidic geyser, with a mixed water rich in both sulfate and chloride. Temperature is measured in the outlet channel that carries much of the erupted water. Rapid temperature increases in geyser outlet channels typically reflect increases in flow due to eruptions of the nearby thermal feature. Sources/Usage Public Domain. USGS

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains & Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography

Earth’s Largest Acidic Geyser Is Currently Very Active

by Keith CowingMarch 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Namib Sand Sea, Ground Penetrating Radar, Yardang, Lut desert,

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains & Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Titan, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Terrestrial Analogs To Titan For Geophysical Research

by Keith CowingFebruary 20, 2026February 20, 2026

Haughton-Mars Project Base Camp - Haughton Crater, Nunavut, Canada -- Mars Institute

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains & Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Missions & Hardware, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, People Of Astrobiology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Conceptual Challenges In Astrobiological Analog Environments And Paths Toward Resolution

by Keith CowingFebruary 17, 2026February 17, 2026