Mapping limits to life on Earth

Freeman, Kenneth; Harrison, Jesse Patrick; Dobinson, Luke; Cockell, Charles S.; McKenzie, R.; Wyllie, Dale; Nixon, Sophie L.

doi:10.1093/astrogeo/atw070

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“…A major question is What are the limits of microbial growth, and how do microbes adapt to extremes? Work has included the following: (1) A combination of laboratory-based and theoretical approaches (Harrison et al, 2013 ; Freeman et al, 2016 ). A particular focus for this work has been to understand how combinations of multiple extremes shape the “boundary space” for microbial cell division, whether on a planetary scale or within a selected ecosystem (or ecosystems) (Harrison et al, 2015a , 2015b ), which advances beyond our understanding of single extreme limits (Cockell and Nixon, 2013 ).…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011–2016

et al. 2018

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The UK Centre for Astrobiology (UKCA) was set up in 2011 as a virtual center to contribute to astrobiology research, education, and outreach. After 5 years, we describe this center and its work in each of these areas. Its research has focused on studying life in extreme environments, the limits of life on Earth, and implications for habitability elsewhere. Among its research infrastructure projects, UKCA has assembled an underground astrobiology laboratory that has hosted a deep subsurface planetary analog program, and it has developed new flow-through systems to study extraterrestrial aqueous environments. UKCA has used this research backdrop to develop education programs in astrobiology, including a massive open online course in astrobiology that has attracted over 120,000 students, a teacher training program, and an initiative to take astrobiology into prisons. In this paper, we review these activities and others with a particular focus on providing lessons to others who may consider setting up an astrobiology center, institute, or science facility. We discuss experience in integrating astrobiology research into teaching and education activities. Key Words: Astrobiology—Centre—Education—Subsurface—Analog research. Astrobiology 18, 224–243.

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