{"id":349283,"date":"2023-06-13T12:16:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T16:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=349283"},"modified":"2024-01-22T15:37:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T20:37:30","slug":"core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Core Area of Expertise: Biology and Astrobiology"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Ames Research Center<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/\">Ames Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>About Ames<\/span><svg 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target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/about-ames\/\">Overview<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/ames-astrogram\/\">Astrogram Newsletter<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/jobs-internships-at-nasa-ames\/\">Careers and Internships<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/inquiries-for-ames-research-center\/\">Contact<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/doing-business-with-nasa-ames\/\">Doing Business <\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/inquiries-for-ames-research-center\/\">FOIA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/ames-research-center-history\/\">History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/ames-leadership-organizations\/\">Leadership and Organizations<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/ames-media-resources\/\">Media Resources<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames-partnerships-landing-page\/\">Partner<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Capabilities<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-supercomputing\/\">Advanced Computing and IT Systems<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-aeroscience\/\">Aerosciences<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-air-traffic-management\/\">Air Traffic Management<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology\/\">Biology and Astrobiology<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-cost-effective-space-missions\/\">Cost-Effective Space Missions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-entry-systems\/\">Entry Systems<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-intelligent-and-adaptive-systems\/\">Intelligent\/Adaptive Systems<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-space-and-earth-science\/\">Space and Earth Science<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Missions<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/viper\/\" rel=\"noopener\">VIPER<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/kepler-3\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Kepler \/ K2<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button 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fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/gallery\/ames\/\">Featured Images<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/ails.arc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Image Library<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/nasaames\" rel=\"noopener\">Videos<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/images.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Images and Video<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/visit-ames-research-center\/\">Visit Ames<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBiology and Astrobiology\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Ames Research Center has been at the leading edge of NASA\u2019s fundamental space biology program for more than 40 years. \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Advanced biological engineering\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg 3032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=768,509 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=1024,678 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=1536,1017 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=2048,1356 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=400,265 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=600,397 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=900,596 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=1200,795 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?resize=2000,1325 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About biology and astrobiology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Biology and astrobiology are increasingly important to NASA as humans attempt to understand the effects of long-duration space flight, while contemplating the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fundamental space biology has been an active area of research for decades at NASA, helping to elucidate the effects of high radiation and low gravity environments on humans in space. Apart from ground-based research, NASA has conducted hundreds of biological science investigations in space \u2013 using the Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS), and small satellites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created as a new interdisciplinary field of research in the 1990s, NASA\u2019s astrobiology program addresses three fundamental questions: How does life begin and evolve? Is there life beyond Earth and, if so, how can we detect it? What is the future of life on Earth and in the universe? In striving to answer these questions and improve understanding of biological, planetary, and cosmic phenomena and relationships among them, experts in astronomy and astrophysics, Earth and planetary sciences, microbiology and evolutionary biology, cosmochemistry, and other relevant disciplines are participating in astrobiology research and helping to advance the enterprise of space exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ames\u2019 Role<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ames has been at the leading edge of NASA\u2019s fundamental space biology program for more than 40 years. Flying hundreds of science payloads aboard the space shuttle, ISS, Russian probes, and small satellites developed at Ames, scientists have conducted biological research and technology development necessary to enable NASA\u2019s long-term human exploration mission. Experiments managed and flown by Ames have revealed the physiological effects of six-month stays on ISS, and identified paths for developing countermeasures for longer-duration human spaceflight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ames is leading the Agency into a fledgling field of research — synthetic biology \u2013 where science and technology are brought together to design and build new biological functions and systems. Biology on Earth readily demonstrates that life is an efficient user of resources around it, turning those resources into habitats, materials and forms that perform critical functions. Synthetic biology in space represents a new challenge — of designing organisms to perform reliable functions that an astronaut may one day depend on. NASA\u2019s synthetic biology program is to provide transformative biological tools and technologies for the benefit of space exploration, science and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ames is home to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI), a virtual institute designed to catalyze interdisciplinary research among competitively selected teams. Research encompasses the search for habitable environments in our solar system, as well as habitable planets outside our solar system, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry and life on Mars and other bodies in our Solar System, laboratory and field research into the origins and early evolution of life on Earth, and studies of the potential for life to adapt to challenges on Earth and in space. Ames plays a leading NASA role in research expeditions to \u201cMars analog\u201d sites on Earth, where microbial life is found in very inhospitable environments, ranging from Antarctica to the heights of the Atacama desert and to deep-sea geothermal events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Featured example: Space biology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Ames laboratory experiments are leading to new technologies that improve astronaut health and monitoring, while making scientific discoveries that benefit life on Earth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specific studies have investigated the effects of radiation on cellular life, and on the documented bone loss of astronauts on orbit for extended missions. Scientists are also investigating, in labs and in space, the ability of living tissue to repair and regenerate after injury, an important line of investigation for astronaut health on future long-duration flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Space biology at Ames is augmented by bioengineering in support of developing environmental and closed life support systems for human exploration. Ames also designs, develops and operates flight payloads for ISS and free-flying satellites. Ames manages NASA\u2019s fundamental space biology microsatellite missions and astrobiology small payload missions. Ames is also providing scientific and management for building new diagnostic biology capabilities aboard ISS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Featured example: Synthetic biology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How is Ames bringing science and technology together to design and build new biological functions and systems?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, Ames assumed the leading role in the fledgling field of synthetic biology. The new NASA Synthetic Biology (SynBio) initiative at Ames will harness biology in reliable, robust, engineered systems to support NASA\u2019s exploration and science missions. Ames is developing technologies to manufacture regolith-based composites to be used as bio-based building materials in space. We are developing SynBio technologies to enable environmental closed loop life support systems to create novel solutions for the purification of air and water and the production of methane from waste carbon dioxide. Ames is also investigating the utility of SynBio for 3-D printing to produce bio-based products, bio-mining to obtain minerals from planetary surfaces or recover valuable elements from spent electronics, and the production and purification of \u2018on-demand\u2019 pharmaceuticals that may be necessary to maintain crew health on long-duration spaceflights.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/careers\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Careers<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg 6607w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=2048,1639 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jsc2023e026323.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA Centers and Facilities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg 5752w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=300,195 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=768,500 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=1024,666 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=1536,1000 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=2048,1333 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=400,260 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=600,390 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=900,586 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=1200,781 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/s69-40022orig.jpg?resize=2000,1301 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Artemis<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Artemis-I.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); 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transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg 2961w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=300,241 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=768,618 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=1024,824 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=1536,1236 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=2048,1648 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=400,322 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=600,483 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=900,724 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=1200,965 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/gpn-2001-000014.jpg?resize=2000,1609 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About biology and astrobiology Biology and astrobiology are increasingly important to NASA as humans attempt to understand the effects of long-duration space flight, while contemplating the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. Fundamental space biology has been an active area of research for decades at NASA, helping to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":195,"featured_media":58487,"parent":122533,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[10441],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Core Area of Expertise: Biology and Astrobiology","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg"},"articleSection":"General","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jerry Colen"}],"creator":["Jerry Colen"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-06-13T16:16:28Z","datePublished":"2023-06-13T16:16:28Z","dateModified":"2024-01-22T20:37:30Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Core Area of Expertise: Biology and Astrobiology\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\/core-area-of-expertise-biology-and-astrobiology\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-06-13T16:16:28Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"General\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jerry Colen\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":58487,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/707156main_amesbiology-1.jpg","title":"707156main_amesbiology-1","alt":"Advanced biological engineering","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/349283"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/195"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/349283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":597753,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/349283\/revisions\/597753"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/122533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=349283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=349283"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=349283"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=349283"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=349283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}