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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.

Correlations of Asgardarchaeota with other microbial lineages in DAN-LK4 microbial mats inferred by co-occurrence network analyses. a, Sankey plot showing positive correlations of Asgard archaeal orders based on normalized USCGs (RPKM) inferred by SparCC alongside their distribution across the redox gradient in the indigenous and mesocosm-maintained microbial mat. The size of boxes is proportional to the relative abundance of Asgard archaea (center) and the number of links with prokaryotic taxa (left) in co-occurrence networks. The relative abundance of the different asgardarchaeal orders is indicated by the thickness of links connecting with the different mat layers (right). -- biorxiv.org

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return

Redox distribution Of Asgard Archaea And Co-occurring Taxa In Microbial Mats From An Early Proterozoic Ecosystem Analog

by Keith CowingApril 9, 2026April 9, 2026

A deuterostome cambroernid fossil from the Jiangchuan Biota and artist’s reconstruction (IMAGE)

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return

Spectacular Fossil Treasure Trove Pushes Back Origins Of Complex Animals

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Relationship between total group age T and crown group age tcg across various diversification rates λ − µ, equation 4. The heatmap represents the crown group age for a given rate and total group age (isolines are presented for reference). The orange dot-dashed line is the minimum value for T to fit the observed eukaryotic-grade fossil record of the late Palaeoproterozoic (1780 Ma), the red-dashed isoline is the minimum age for tcg fitting the observed crown-eukaryote fossil record from the end of the Mesoproterozoic (1050 Ma), and the grey interval is the range of possible tcg require to obtain the living diversity for a given rate and total age. The isolines for late LECA (tcg = 1200) or generous late LECA (tcg = 1400 Ma) are the red-dotted lines. -- biorxiv.org

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return

Clade Dynamics Support An Early Origin Of Crown Eukaryotes

by Keith CowingApril 7, 2026April 7, 2026

Proteins — large molecules with a specific biological function — are created by stringing together smaller molecular building blocks (amino acids) into chains which fold into complex 3D shapes. Credit Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life

Identifying The Limits Of Protein Evolution

by Keith CowingApril 2, 2026April 2, 2026

Protocell formation on a scoriaceous micrometeorite. A scanning electron microscope image section of the micrometeorite (left), fluorescence microscope micrograph of protocells on the surface of the micrometeorite (right). Phospholipid membranes in the fluorescence micrograph are composed of Escherichia coli (E.coli) and soybean plant lipids, labeled with 1 wt% ATTO 655-DOPE. Unilamellar vesicles have only a thin fluorescent rim, while multilamellar membrane reservoirs are onion shell vesicles composed of densely packed lipid membranes. -- Astrobiology

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life

From Space Dust To Protocells: Micrometeorites In Early Cellular Evolution

by Keith CowingMarch 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Schematic of methods used to insert ancestral genes into the host A. vinelandii genome -- Nature Communications

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life

Resurrecting Ancient Enzymes in NASA’s Search For Life Beyond Earth

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Graphical abstract

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life

Machine Learning For Evolutionary Genetics And Molecular Evolution

by Keith CowingMarch 26, 2026March 26, 2026

A few highlights from the first recognition of Archaea to the cultivation of the first Asgard representatives and their cellular structures are shown. Symbols indicate the respective methods used. -- Springer Nature

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life

Asgard Archaea: Have We Found Our Microbial Aancestors?

by Keith CowingMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

The researchers focused on exceptionally well-preserved sedimentary rocks deposited on ancient seafloors in what is now southern Sweden. Credit Unil

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Origin & Evolution of Life

Refining The Clock Of Earth’s Early Complex Animal Life

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026