Cyanobacteria as an example of astrobiology and biotechnology. Cyanobacteria fulfill two important roles in Earth habitability: the production of oxygen (right) and the fixation of carbon (from atmospheric carbon dioxide, left). Cyanobacteria are credited with significantly increasing global oxygen levels around 2.4 billion years ago, which shifted our planet’s redox conditions and could have spurred the evolution of eukaryotes and complex life. In the modern day, their voracious consumption of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be harnessed to again shift planetary-scale processes by sequestering carbon as biomass, carbonate, or biofuel products. — EarthRx
Astrobiology, while traditionally focused on understanding the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere, offers powerful tools and insights for addressing urgent challenges on our planet.
This perspective, written by early career researchers, calls for a deliberate integration of astrobiological research with applied sciences in environmental engineering, biotechnology, and resource management. We highlight how knowledge from Earth analogs for other planetary bodies can inform strategies for carbon capture, low-carbon energy production, waste remediation, and biotechnology.
Examples include engineering serpentinizing systems for hydrogen and carbon sequestration, harnessing extremophile and cyanobacterial metabolisms for sustainable industrial processes, and applying microbial bioremediation to mitigate environmental contaminants and pollutants.
As technologies developed for space exploration begin to find terrestrial relevance, we argue that astrobiology must evolve to become a bidirectional science that not only explores the cosmos but also supports sustainable life on Earth. This dual approach strengthens our ability to design and implement astrobiological missions to other solar system bodies while simultaneously supporting improved stewardship of our own Earth.
Introduction
As early career researchers, we recognize an increasing tension between fundamental questions in science, such as “Where did life come from?” and “Does it exist elsewhere in our solar system and universe?” and pressing questions of environmental sustainability on Earth. We contend that these questions are not contradictory; instead, we among others increasingly observe investigations in fundamental, astrobiological questions intersecting with applied scientific fields, particularly in the realms of climate sustainability, biotechnology, and resource management.
Here, we propose a path that fosters synergy between Earth analog research and the application of biology and geochemistry of these natural systems to applied science. Given that astrobiology intersects heavily with multiple Earth-facing fields of study, this early career perspective argues that an Earth-centric approach to astrobiology can benefit both the field of astrobiology and the only planet known to harbor life: Earth.
Over the next two decades, we urge the astrobiology community, which conducts fundamental research on Earth in the search for life elsewhere, to advocate for and engage in translating our research in the aid of our own planet. We contend that there is significant motivation to reexamine and harness the extensive capabilities of microorganisms, and the analog environments they inhabit, to address the growing energy and resource demands of human life on Earth and potentially beyond.
In this perspective, we highlight several illustrative, but non-exhaustive examples of processes and themes that represent the convergence between astrobiology and applied science, including:
- Astrobiology and Environmental Science and Engineering: Investigating the interactions between biological and geological processes in analog environments to develop innovative solutions for energy production and carbon capture.
- Astrobiology and Biotechnology: Harnessing the unique capabilities of extremophiles and other environmentally relevant microorganisms to develop biotechnological applications that can address issues such as waste management, bioenergy production, and bioremediation.
- Astrobiology and Resource Management: Applying knowledge gained from studying microorganisms in analog environments to improve resource management practices on Earth, ensuring sustainable acquisition and use of natural resources.
Catherine G. Fontana1, Sabrina Elkassas, Tristan A. Caro, Srishti Kashyap, Alta E. G. Howells
A Search for Life in the Universe Advances Life on Earth, EarthArXiv
Astrobiology