NASA scientists created a unique collection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) spectra to interpret mysterious emission from space. Because PAHs are a major product of combustion, remain in the environment, and are carcinogenic, the value of this PAH spectral collection extends far beyond NASA and astronomical applications.

Dale Andersen: "During the PLRP field season of 2009, Dr. Ian Hawes and I made several night dives. Here you can see Ian exploring the microbialites, searching for grazers such as amphipods and snails that might have an impact upon the overall growth and morphology of the structures. The underwater video was taken with my Sony PMW-EX1 in a Gates Housing using a Fathom SWP44c port and two Green Force Squid 250 HID light set with FIII Batteries."

The first experimental evidence showing how atmospheric nitrogen can be incorporated into organic macromolecules is being reported by a University of Arizona team. The finding indicates what organic molecules might be found on Titan, the moon of Saturn that scientists think is a model for the chemistry of pre-life Earth. Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres, said Hiroshi Imanaka, who conducted the research while a member of UA's chemistry and biochemistry department.

Image: Lyot crater is 210km in diameter. The blue lines show the swathes of data taken by the Mars Express OMEGA sensor. The red boxes show the NASA CRISM pointings. The asterisks show the locations where hydrated minerals were detected. The OMEGA swathes were acquired in Dec 2004 (left) and March 2008 (right). The CRISM observations were taken between Jan 2008 and April 2010. Credits: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech/JHU-APL/IAS

Dale Andersen: Underwater video taken with my Sony PMW-EX1 in a Gates Housing of ongoing research in Pavilion Lake. Dr. Ian Hawes is seen measuring photosynthetic competency within the microbialite structures. The instrument he is using is a Diving PAM fluorometer made by Walz in Germany. Diving is a great way to work in Pavilion Lake but there are limitations to how long one can stay underwater and how much of the lake can be studied. Another way to approach this is to utilize ROV's, AUV/s and small, one person submersibles. In this case, a pair of Deepworker submersibles designed and built by Phil Nuytten the President and founder of Nuytco Research Ltd and Can-Dive Services Ltd. Dr. Darlene Lim and Dr. Allyson Brady are piloting the submersibles. More information.

Instituto Astrofisica de Canarias: A team of scientists from the Instituto Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of Texas has succeeded in identifying one of the most complex organic molecules yet found in the material between the stars, the so-called interstellar medium. The discovery of anthracene could help resolve a decades-old astrophysical mystery concerning the production of organic molecules in space. The researchers report their findings in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

NASA today announced it has selected two candidate proposals to study how life responds and adapts to space and microgravity for the agency's next Fundamental Space Biology Program "missions of opportunity." One project seeks to discover why bacteria become more virulent in space and another will study how tiny electrical currents in fern spores impact plant development in microgravity.