Alexander Pavlov is a space scientist at nasa-goddard who researches biosignature survival under planetary radiation environments.
Research
- 2024 — Modeled amino acid survival depths on Europa and Enceladus at relevant cryogenic temperatures; found silica-rich regions accelerate degradation.
- 2026 — Led a NASA Goddard / Penn State study published in Astrobiology showing that amino acids from E. coli survive >50 million years of simulated Martian cosmic radiation in pure water ice, but are destroyed ~10× faster in ice mixed with Martian-like silicate sediment. Proposed a mineral-ice interface film mechanism for the accelerated radical transport in mixed ice. Argued future Mars missions should prioritize drilling into clean buried ice rather than rocks or clay. See src-mars-ancient-life-ice-survival-2026-02.
Key Quote
“Fifty million years is far greater than the expected age for some current surface ice deposits on Mars, which are often less than two million years old, meaning any organic life present within the ice would be preserved.”