Microorganisms in cold ecosystems play a key ecological role in their natural habitats. Since
these ecosystems are especially sensitive to climate changes, as indicated by the worldwide …

Scientists use the Earth as a tool for astrobiology by analyzing planetary field analogues (ie
terrestrial samples and field sites that resemble planetary bodies in our Solar System). In …

Background Antarctica and its unique biodiversity are increasingly at risk from the effects of
global climate change and other human influences. A significant recent element …

Return of samples from the surface of Mars has been a goal of the international Mars
science community for many years. Affirmation by NASA and ESA of the importance of Mars …

Abstract Background The Antarctic continent is considered the coldest and driest place on
earth with simple ecosystems, devoid of higher plants. Soils in the ice-free regions of …

While grounded in the hard sciences of physics, chemistry, geology, and astronomy, as well
as well-accepted principles in the life sciences, astrobiology remains the most speculative of …

Significant progress is being made in the development of the next generation of low cost life
detection instrumentation with much smaller size, mass and energy requirements. Here, we …

The novel extremophilic yeast Rhodotorula frigidialcoholis, formerly R. JG1b, was isolated
from ice-cemented permafrost in University Valley (Antarctic), one of coldest and driest …

Uncultured microorganisms comprise most of the microbial diversity existing on our planet.
Despite advances in environmental sequencing and single-cell genomics, in-depth studies …

Featured Application This work expands the current knowledge of fungal agents and their
role in the biodeterioration of limestone rocks, while providing tools for the development of …