Sample Return – Page 3 – My WordPress Site

The Alvin is pictured sampling the P hydrothermal vent, which is an underwater volcano that forms at spreading and converging plate boundaries that spews out hot water that’s been heating underneath the earth’s crust. -- University of Delaware

Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

University of Delaware Robotics Study The Depths Of Earth’s Ocean

by Keith CowingMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

Pink arrows point to spherical, radiating aggregates of gypsum crystals observed in the lower part of stromatolitic sample from Salar de Pajonales in northern Chile. These structures illustrate gypsum mineralization associated with microbial biosignatures. Credit Tebes-Cayo et al., 2026. -- Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return

Gypsum Sustains Microbial Life Under Extreme Conditions – This Could Help Us Study Mars

by Keith CowingMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

Industrial applications and role in the climate change of different classes of extremophiles. (a) Illustrations in the inner circle are representing the major classification of extremophiles, while the outer circle depicts their associated industrial and biotechnological applications. -- Frontiers

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Radiation, Sample Return

Molecular Adaptations And Engineering Of Extremophiles For Synthetic Biology And Biotechnological Applications

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2026March 20, 2026

With the Munsell Soil Colour Chart the cores are described visually in colour and structure as acurately as possible. Photo: Diekamp@ECORD_IODP3_NSF Credit Diekamp@ECORD_IODP3_NSF

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extensive Freshened Water Beneath Earth’s Ocean Floor Confirmed For The First Time

by Keith CowingMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG)

Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Missions & Hardware, Moon, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return

LEAG-ExMAG Artemis Sample Return SAT Reports Now Available

by Keith CowingMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/KSC

Habitable Zones, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Terraforming & Geoengineering

Limits of Terrestrial Life and the Probability of Growth on Mars: Call for Speakers and Topics

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

[L] Close-up of a sample particle from asteroid Bennu. Credit NASA/Scott Eckley [R] The same particle analyzed with X-ray computed tomography scanning. This specimen shows the most common types of crack networks observed in Bennu samples. One has an extensive and connect framework of curved cracks, whereas the other has sparse, straight and flat fractures. Credit NASA/Scott Eckley

Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Sample Return

Asteroid Bennu’s Rugged Surface Baffled NASA. We Finally Know Why

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Drilling Base Camp, Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica -- BAS

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Microbiology & Virology, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ice World Expedition: Drilling Through Thwaites Glacier In West Antarctica

by Keith CowingMarch 12, 2026March 12, 2026

Lake Untersee, Antarctica and surrounding features - NASA/Google Earth

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Life Support Systems, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Antarctica’s Untersee – A Most Unusual Lake

by Keith CowingMarch 12, 2026March 12, 2026

A Map of CTD downcast events on which metagenomics samples were taken, colored according to the number of samples taken on the cast.

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Researchers Uncover Hidden Genetic World in Antarctic Waters

by Keith CowingMarch 12, 2026March 12, 2026