Astrobiology & Laboratory Experiments - NASA

The facility supplies highly amorphous Mg-silicate, Fe-silicate and Fe-Mg silicate smokes, along with Fe-Aluminate, Mg-Aluminate and SiO-Aluminate smokes. It also provides graphitic and carbonaceous coated Fe-silicate smokes for laboratory experiments that require freshly condensed analogs of circumstellar or presolar dust.

An interdisciplinary research group called the Agnostic Biosignature Collective develops detection tools and techniques aimed at identifying living systems. Its approach emphasizes fundamental characteristics rather than relying on biochemical analogy. The Astrobiology Analytical Lab and the Hot Environments Lab identify organic materials, including amino acids, from meteorites, extraterrestrial analogs and sample return missions.

The Cosmic Ice Lab studies the spectra, chemistry and physical properties of ices.

astrobiology, nasa, agnostic biosignature, circumstellar dust, presolar dust, silicate smokes, carbonaceous dust, amino acids, meteorites, cosmic ice