Arizona Astrobiology Center

UA astronomer Chris Impey giving a workshop at the Arizona Astrobiology Center.

A big thanks to Chris Impey ( @stewardobservatory.bsky.social ) for taking the time to present a great SkillSpace workshop for AABC!

Envisioning Joint Futures in Art and Astronomy is an AAS-sponsored virtual event happening on Monday, April 13th, 2026 from 12 – 5 p.m. Eastern time.

For more details and registration: forms.gle/k8Y5xd3NyAcN...

#astrobiology #art

Image of Nathan Hadland and SoRi La at the University of Arizona's Grad Slam competition.

Congratulations to astrobiology ambassador SoRi La and AABC’s own Nathan Hadland for their 2nd and 3rd place showing in the University of Arizona’s Grad Slam, a campus-wide competition for the best 3-minute graduate student presentation of a research, creative, or community engagement project.

U of A space scientists reflect on Galaxy Slam's debut Three of the six scientists featured during the Galaxy Slam celebration spoke with Lo Que Pasa about what the initiative meant to them and why it matters for the university community.

U of A space scientists reflect on Galaxy Slam’s debut news.arizona.edu/employee-new...

AABC Interim Director Ty Robinson showed off his skills at the 1st Galaxy Slam midcourt at the UA-BYU basketball game. Way to go, Ty!

Feb 24, 2026: 11 a.m. to 12: 15 p.m.
Center for Creative Photography

A U of A Beckman Scholars Program & Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology Joint Seminar.

2026 Ceremony - Lewis Thomas Prize The Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science An International Award Honoring the Scientist as Poet Will be awarded to Chris Impey, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Astronomy Steward Observatory The University of Arizona Author of Worlds Without End:...

Renowned astronomer Chris Impey of @stewardobservatory.bsky.social has been named the 2026 recipient of Rockefeller’s prestigious science writing award, the Lewis Thomas Prize!

Register for the ceremony on March 9 here:

More information about Dr. Fink's life and work is shared here: lpl.arizona.edu/about/memori...

Careers in Astrobiology: What is an Astrobiologist? YouTube video by Arizona Astrobiology Center

Careers in Astrobiology: What is an Astrobiologist?

Astrobiology Ambassador Parami Permadura De Silva tells us about what exactly an astrobiologist is, which might be more varied than you think!

youtu.be/9nfB35c5mec

Kudos to LPL's Head and Director, Dr. Mark Marley, for being awarded the 2026 Lecar Prize! science.arizona.edu/news/lunar-p...

Image of author Michael Wong and the cover of his book, "Time's Second Arrow."

Join us for a chat with Mike Wong about his new book, “Time's Second Arrow.” Mike will discuss the big ideas behind the book and their relationship to astrobiology.

Thursday, 2/19, 4 to 6 p.m.
Charles P. Sonett Space Sciences Building, Room 111
#astrobiology #science

U of A takes leading operations role in NASA mission The University of Arizona is mission control for the Pandora mission, which will help scientists study exoplanets and their stars.

U of A takes leading operations role in NASA mission-

Pandora is the first NASA mission for which the U of A is responsible for complete, end-to-end mission operations, including spacecraft commanding and day-to-day flight operations.

research.arizona.edu/news/u-takes...

The Astrobiology Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant 2026
Applications due Wednesday, February 18, 2026, by 5 p.m.

The AABC Seed Grant program is an opportunity to foster creative scholarship and engagement in the expansive field of astrobiology.

More: astrobiology.arizona.edu/sites/defaul...

Apply now!

Applications will be accepted until January 16, 2026, 11:59 PM AZ time.

Contact Dolores Hill (dhill1@arizona.edu) if you have any questions.

Home Boulder Solar Alliance REU Program The University of Colorado Boulder invites undergraduates to apply for a paid summer research experience for highly motivated students interested in solar and space ...

Applications for the 2026 Boulder Solar Alliance REU program are now open.

lasp.colorado.edu/reu/

NASA’s Pandora telescope will study stars in detail to learn about the exoplanets orbiting them The findings from Pandora will complement data from the James Webb Space Telescope to give astronomers more insight into stars and planets outside our solar system.

NASA’s Pandora telescope will study stars in detail to learn about the exoplanets orbiting them

theconversation.com/nasas-pandor...

REU

Research Experience for Undergraduates
Life in the Universe –Astronomy, Astrobiology, and Planetary Science at the SETI Institute

Applications for the 2026 program are now open and will close on February 1, 2026.

www.seti.org/education/reu/

Life on lava: How microbes colonize new habitats Taking advantage of a "natural laboratory" in Iceland, a research team from the University of Arizona studied how microbes colonize fresh lava flows as soon as they cooled.

Life on lava: How microbes colonize new habitats

news.arizona.edu/news/life-la...

A new look at TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized, habitable-zone exoplanet Recently reported methane signatures detected by the James Webb Space Telescope could be a hint to it potentially harboring life, but University of Arizona researcher Sukrit Ranjan urges caution.

A new look at TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized, habitable-zone exoplanet –
news.arizona.edu/news/new-loo...

Featuring AABC member Sukrit Ranjan!

Sugars, ‘Gum,’ Stardust Found in NASA's Asteroid Bennu Samples - NASA The asteroid Bennu continues to provide new clues to scientists’ biggest questions about the formation of the early solar system and the origins of life. As

Sugars, ‘Gum,’ Stardust Found in NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples

Careers in Astrobiology: What is an Image Processing Engineer?

Astrobiology Ambassador Ellie Cornish gives us the rundown on what an image processing engineer does and how they help scientists of many different stripes with pictures from telescopes and rovers.

#astrobiology #science

Astrobiology Ambassador Chase Cooper talks up tidally-locked planets in this Astrobio Lounge short!

#astrobiology #science #research

@uarizona.bsky.social

Produced by the Arizona Astrobiology Center & the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, “Big Questions: Astrobiology” takes audiences on an immersive journey into some of the universe’s most profound mysteries: How did Earth become habitable? Where did life begin?

www.rocketcenter.com/INTUITIVEPla...

Pictured (front): David Weigel, Brittany Kundert, Erin Nagelkirk back: Dani DellaGiustina (LPL), Corey Knox (AABC), Tyler Robinson (AABC)

We want to thank members of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center who joined us for the AABC open house and the premiere of “Big Questions: Astrobiology”.

Pictured (front): David Weigel, Brittany Kundert, Erin Nagelkirk
back: Dani DellaGiustina (LPL), Corey Knox, Tyler Robinson (AABC)

Repost: hold the date! 😃

What We Just Found on Mars YouTube video by StarTalk

Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the exciting discovery of minerals and organic compounds on Mars that may signal the potential for ancient life with the help of astrobiologist David Grinspoon.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvcf...