SETI Institute In the News
The SETI Institute continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.
This month, we highlight the ARTEMOSS experiment, led by Dr. Agata Zupanska, which studies how Antarctic moss adapts to space conditions, providing insights for future missions. We also celebrate the achievements of Gabriella Rizzo and Pritvik Sinhadc, who will be honored with the SETI Forward Award at the Drake Awards in May for their work in astrobiology and SETI research.
In planetary science, a new study suggests that Earth's moon may have once had rings, with Matthew Tiscareno sharing his expert insights. The Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaked on January 3, 2025, lit up the northern hemisphere sky; Dr. Peter Jenniskens identified its source in 2003 as the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH1, helping us better understand space. Through these initiatives, the SETI Institute continues to explore space and the possibility of life beyond Earth.
Earth’s Moon Could’ve Had Saturn-Like Rings, New Study Hints
A new study suggests Earth's moon may have once had rings, but none exist today. Matthew Tiscareno, a planetary scientist at the SETI Institute, explained, “A ring can form around an object when debris starts orbiting it,” either from asteroid impacts or cryovolcanic activity. However, he believes gravitational forces likely caused these rings to decay over time, stating, “gravitational tugs from the parent moons, over long stretches of time, would cause the ring particle orbits to decay until they eventually impact the surface of the moon.” If Earth's moon had rings, “they crashed to the lunar surface long ago.”
Read full article by Live Science here: Earth's moon could've had Saturn-like rings, new study hints
Offworld Plant Biology: ARTEMOSS Experiment Launches to the International Space Station
The ARTEMOSS experiment, led by Dr. Agata Zupanska of the SETI Institute, has launched to the ISS aboard SpaceX-31 to study how Antarctic moss (Ceratodon purpureus) adapts to deep-space conditions. The experiment examines the combined effects of simulated cosmic radiation and microgravity on plant growth, development, and physiology. By analyzing molecular responses, researchers aim to understand how plants survive in space, providing insights for future long-term missions. This study is supported by a NASA Space Biology grant.
Read full article by Astrobiology here: Offworld Plant Biology: ARTEMOSS Experiment Launches to the International Space Station
SETI Forward Honors the Cosmic Pioneers of Tomorrow
The 2024 SETI Forward Award, conceived by Lew Levy and Dane Glasgow, honors Gabriella Rizzo and Pritvik Sinhadc for their contributions to astrobiology and SETI research. Gabriella discovered a novel microbe, strain Ax23, in a Pacific hydrothermal vent, producing methane at high temperatures. Pritvik explores detecting extraterrestrial civilizations through gravitational waves, a new approach beyond traditional radio signals. Their achievements will be celebrated at the upcoming Drake Awards in May 2025.
Read the full article by Scienmag.com here: SETI Forward Honors the Cosmic Pioneers of Tomorrow
Quadrantid Meteor Shower to Light Up Northern Hemisphere Sky
The Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaked on January 3, 2025, lit up the northern hemisphere sky with meteors radiating from the Boötes constellation. Dr. Peter Jenniskens, an astronomer and research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center and the SETI Institute, identified the source of the Quadrantids in 2003 as the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH1. This discovery has provided crucial insights into the origins of the annual meteor shower, which is known for its bright, blue fireball meteors, caused by high velocities and elements like magnesium and iron.
Read the full article by The Guardian here: Quadrantid meteor shower to light up northern hemisphere sky
