The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has been awarded a $750,000 grant from NASA to support research into underground ecosystems that rely on radiation rather than sunlight for energy. The project will bring together researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the Desert Research Institute, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
According to NSHE, “Results from this study will aid in NASA’s strategies for detecting life beneath the surface of Mars and icy worlds throughout the solar system.” The collaborative team will conduct research at underground sites in Nevada and across the Southwest.
This initiative is expected to advance scientific understanding in this field and enhance Nevada’s position as a center for research and innovation.