The prospects for the habitability of M-dwarf planets have long been debated, due to key
differences between the unique stellar and planetary environments around these low-mass …

In spite of being a worldwide phenomenon that can have important ecological, economic
and social consequences, freshwater salinization (ie the increase in ion concentrations in …

Hydrocarbon seeps and hydrothermal vents are now known to be common at continental
margins and oceanic spreading centers worldwide, exuding fluids rich in CH4 and H2S, and …

The oceans cover the majority of the Earth's surface; they influence our climate and provide
a valuable source of food to billions of people. Yet despite its fundamental impact on our …

Astrobiology is the science that seeks to understand the story of life in our universe.
Astrobiology includes investigation of the conditions that are necessary for life to emerge …

The habitability of Europa is a property within a system, which is driven by a multitude of
physical and chemical processes and is defined by many interdependent parameters, so …

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 …

Despite being one of the largest biomes on earth, sea ice ecosystems have only received
intensive study over the past 30 years. Sea ice is a unique habitat for assemblages of …

The biosphere of planet Earth is delineated by physico‐chemical conditions that are too
harsh for, or inconsistent with, life processes and maintenance of the structure and function …

Since a key requirement of known life forms is available water (water activity; aw), recent
searches for signatures of past life in terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments have …