Itamar Shalev

Itamar is a distinguished astrobiologist with a rich background in the study of potential extraterrestrial life and the potential habitability of other planets. He earned his Ph.D. in Astrobiology from MIT and has authored numerous influential papers on the subject.  His research activities at Pendragon Station will include studying photosynthesis in extreme environments. Mars has a very different environment from Earth, but both places share the challenge of variable light conditions. Cyanobacteria are known for their ability to carry out photosynthesis in various light conditions. Understanding how they adapt to changing light regimes in a marine environment could provide insights into how similar organisms might adapt to the unique lighting conditions on Mars, where sunlight is significantly reduced due to the planet's thin atmosphere and greater distance from the Sun.  Additionally, understanding how certain organisms can acclimate to challenging conditions could inform the development of life support systems. Cyanobacteria are being explored as potential candidates for oxygen production and biomass generation in closed-loop life support systems.