Free organic volatiles and IOM thermal degradation products liberated by flash heating to ~610 °C of Bennu samples. Shown are total ion chromatograms obtained by pyrolysis analysis of Bennu (A–D)

Saturn’s moon Mimas, imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. A new study shows how such small ice moons could sustain a liquid ocean beneath an icy shell, and how that could

Close-up view of bacterial communities thriving at the vent site. The distance between the two green laser points is 9 cm, providing a scale for the dense microbial structures visible

Raman optical observations at 10× and 100× showing original halite hopper crystal and microbial movement within fluid inclusions entombed within the crystal structure. (A) Entire halite cubic crystal showing rectangular

The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter captured this view of Mars’ south polar ice cap Feb. 25, 2015. Three years later, the spacecraft detected a signal from the area