Standing in a flat green field near the harbor at Sulphur Point in Tauranga, Aotearoa, New Zealand, a ring of white wooden posts reaches toward the sky. At first glance, the installation might seem like public art — and it is, in part — but each post carries a precise purpose rooted in thousands of years of human ingenuity. This is the Kāpehu Whetū, the Celestial Compass, and it recently became home to an #EarthFlagged moment, as BMS founder and […]

By Dr. Graham Lau, Senior Research Investigator at BMSISOriginally published at The Cosmobiologist (shared here with minor edits) The concept of terraforming has been a mainstay in sci-fi and the science of space settlement for some time. It’s kind of remarkable not only to think about the potential of making other worlds more like our home, but also to realize that we have the tools and technology to start doing such a thing now. However, as some people over the past week […]

Scientists showed that an understudied bacterium is widespread in deep soils worldwide and adapted to life with very little energy. Written By Arda Sems and originally published on Sciworthy Deep beneath Earth’s surface lies a largely unexplored ecosystem known as the Critical Zone. The Critical Zone is a region of soil extending from the ground surface to the bottom of the groundwater zone, and forms a dynamic interface where rock, water, air, and life interact. These deep soils contain much lower amounts of […]

In a sun-baked canyon landscape outside Hanksville, Utah, a figure in a simulated spacesuit pauses to hold up something small but striking: a patch bearing the iconic “Blue Marble” image of Earth. It’s a quiet moment, but it carries a world’s worth of meaning (quite literally!). The location is the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), operated by the Mars Society in one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth. The red rock terrain of the Utah desert, sculpted by the […]

You don’t have to travel into space to experience what humans have been experiencing for millennia (though I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt…) By Dr. Graham Lau, Senior Research Investigator at BMSISOriginally published at The Cosmobiologist (shared here with minor edits) In 1987, author and space philosopher Frank White coined the term The Overview Effect to describe a proposed profound psychological shift that astronauts experience when they leave Earth and look back upon it from space. This unique perspective allows them to see the […]

BMSIS scientists, Drs. Sanjoy Som and Graham Lau alongside Sarah Marcotte and Dr. Mitch Schulte of NASA, traveled to New Zealand in September and October this year to engage in a sharing of knowledge in astrobiology. It was a celebration of ten years of astrobiology and 150 years of scientific collaboration between the U.S. and New Zealand as well as a journey of discussion about life, the universe, and everything. The trip was led by Haritina (Hari) Mogoşanu—board member, Executive […]

By Ben Pauley Alien planets, such as the water-barren desert world of Arrakis from the Dune novels and films or the rebel base on the ice world of Hoth from Star Wars, are a staple of science fiction that push the boundaries of what we, as humans, consider habitable. But in our imaginings, these worlds often orbit around stars fairly similar to the one in our own system. Less explored is the possibility of strange, alien worlds around stars that […]

By María José Ramírez The search for extraterrestrial life has been one of humanity’s greatest drives. Since ancient times, we have wondered: is Earth the only planet with life? This question has been a topic of conversation and study for thousands of years, especially considering the harsh and vastly different conditions found on other planets. But what if the answer isn’t as far away as we may think? What if, on our own planet, there are organisms capable of shedding […]

By Livian Von Dran The proverb “like a moth to a flame” refers to an attraction to something harmful—dangerous, even. The phrase stems from the apparent fixation moths have with light, to the point of memetic notoriety. This stereotype holds some truth for one reason: light pollution. Known to disproportionately impact nocturnal insects, this unconventional form of pollution manifests itself as artificial light that exceeds the natural light levels seen in the surrounding environment.9 Moths and butterflies are insects that […]