Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36710946›Full record

ArticleActa astronautica2022

Interstellar space biology via Project Starlight.

Stephen Lantin, Sophie Mendell, Ghassan Akkad, Alexander N Cohen, Xander Apicella, Emma McCoy, Eliana Beltran-Pardo, Michael Waltemathe, Prasanna Srinivasan, Pradeep M Joshi and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta astronautica, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Space Research Ethics.Science and engineering ethics · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Stephen LantinDepartment of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, FL, USA.
Sophie MendellDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Ghassan AkkadDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Alexander N CohenDepartment of Physics, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Xander ApicellaDepartment of Physics, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Emma McCoyDepartment of Physics, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Eliana Beltran-PardoUCLA Health Center, 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA.
Michael WaltematheRuhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
Prasanna SrinivasanDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Pradeep M JoshiDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Joel H RothmanDepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.
Philip LubinDepartment of Physics, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA.

Funding

Developmental reprogramming and transorganogenesisR01HD081266 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · PI Joel H. Rothman · 2015 to 2026
$3.0M
Plasticity in an embryonic gene regulatory networkR01HD082347 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · PI ROTHMAN, JOEL H. · 2015 to 2019
$1.5M
Plasticity in an embryonic gene regulatory networkR01GM143771 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · PI ROTHMAN, JOEL H. · 2021 to 2024
$1.3M
NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD081266NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD082347NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM143771
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Our ability to explore the cosmos by direct contact has been limited to a small number of lunar and interplanetary missions. However, the NASA Starlight program points a path forward to send small, relativistic spacecraft far outside our solar system via standoff directed-energy propulsion. These miniaturized spacecraft are capable of robotic exploration but can also transport seeds and organisms, marking a profound change in our ability to both characterize and expand the reach of known life. Here we explore the biological and technological challenges of interstellar space biology, focusing on radiation-tolerant microorganisms capable of cryptobiosis. Additionally, we discuss planetary protection concerns and other ethical considerations of sending life to the stars.

Indexed as

CryptobiosisDirected energy propulsionInterstellar propulsionNASA starlightPlanetary protectionSpace biology

Identifiers

PMID36710946
PMCPMC9881496

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.