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Illustration representing cosmic evolution, showing planets and galaxies in space, volcanic eruptions on Earth, and biological life in the ocean.
NASA Cassini spacecraft captured dramatic plumes, both large and small, spray water ice out from many locations along the famed tiger stripes near the south pole of Saturn moon Enceladus.
Blurry satellite against the blackness of space

Exobiology Branch Overview

The Exobiology Branch conducts interdisciplinary basic research in exobiology to understand pre-biotic chemistry and the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe. We provide an interface between the external academic community and NASA programs. Our work also informs the selection, design, and development of NASA life-detection missions; the design and fabrication of spaceflight instruments to evaluate habitability and detect biosignatures; and the interpretation of astrobiology mission and astronomical data.

Meet the Team about Exobiology Branch Overview

CHIEF

Mary Voytek

Deputy Chief

Melissa Kirven-Brooks

Assistant Chief

Lori Munar

Basic Research in Astrobiology

Center of Emergence of Life (CEL)

We conduct basic research that covers a broad range of topics within Astrobiology. Our work includes research into the origin and early evolution of life, and our branch is home to the Center of Emergence of Life (CEL), which supports a holistic approach to investigating the origin and early evolution of life by integrating experimental and computational approaches in the areas of cosmochemistry, systems chemistry, molecular modeling, in vitro evolution, and synthetic biology.

Learn More About CEL about Center of Emergence of Life (CEL)

Habitable Environments, Biosignatures (HEB) 

Our branch also conducts research to understand the nature and distribution of habitable environments and how biosignatures from inhabited environments can be detected. Our investigations into habitability and biosignatures include research that focuses on multiple planetary bodies both with and beyond our own solar system.

Learn More About HEB about Habitable Environments, Biosignatures (HEB) 
Image of a pruple blue spring surrounded by orange yellow and light purple land

Interface between External Scientific Community and NASA

Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database (AHED)

Our branch also hosts the Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database, which provides a central, high-quality, long-term data repository and discussion forum for mineralogical, textural, morphological, chemical, and isotopic information pertinent to astrobiology.

Learn More About AHED about Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database (AHED)
Image of AHED banner showing origins of life

Mission Support & Instrument Development

CheMin

Work within our branch supports both current and future missions. Multiple mission instruments have been developed within the Exobiology Branch. For example, one instrument developed within the Exobiology Branch, CheMin, is currently operating on the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity). See below video to learn more. CheMin utilizes X-ray diffraction and fluorescence to provide definitive mineralogy of rock samples (both elemental analysis and crystal structure determination).

Instrumentation Research about CheMin
Minerals at 'Rocknest' and 'John Klein'