Topic · Astronomy and Astrophysics · Physics and Astronomy

Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life

OpenAlex topic; a paper is listed when OpenAlex scores it at least 0.5 for this topic.

2 papers

Microbial Growth in an Enceladus Ocean Analog Medium Informed by Mineral Stability Modeling

Sabrina M. Elkassas, Tucker D. Ely, Teodora Zhivkova, Amina Patterson, Katelyn M. Weeks, Vinitra Nathan, Lydia A. Hayes‐Guastella, Sarina Mitchell, Margrethe Hauge Serres, Everett L. Shock, Peter R. Girguis, Christopher R. German, Frieder Klein, Jeffrey S. Seewald, Julie A. Huber

The paper tests microbial survival in an Enceladus ocean analog medium using thermodynamic modeling and Earth-based samples, finding stress-tolerant heterotrophic bacteria can persist under simulated conditions.

bioRxiv · Jul 1, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Assessing the viability of biochemical networks across planets

Harrison B. Smith, Alexa Drew, Sara Imari Walker

This paper assesses the viability of biochemical networks on other planets using Earth's geochemical data and planetary observations, finding that Enceladus lacks necessary compounds for alkaline prokaryotes' metabolism.

bioRxiv · Apr 12, 2019 · PreprintSystems Biology