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Exploring Planetary Conditions

Planetary sciences focus on the geological, chemical, and physical processes that shape environmental conditions on early Earth, other planets, and moons, as well as seek to understand whether those conditions could support life. A key aspect of this work is to identify essential biosignatures to advance the understanding of our solar system—and those that lie beyond it.

Folded Ediacaran strata along the Orange River, the river that separates Namibia from South Africa.
Folded Ediacaran strata along the Orange River, the river that separates Namibia from South Africa.

Planetary sciences research in the Institute for Planets and Life (IPL) includes:

  • Analyzing planetary atmospheres, including early Earth, Titan, Europa, and exoplanets, to understand how atmospheric chemistry affects the habitability of a planet
  • Investigating the habitability of current or former ocean worlds (e.g., Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and Titan), including developing techniques to search for signs of extinct or extant life
  • Long-term stability and survivability of the Earth over geological timescales
  • Life under extreme conditions, including how organisms adapt to environmental conditions and the preservation of biosignatures
  • Planetary magnetic fields and dynamo theory, and their effects on planetary atmosphere and habitability

Planetary Science Researchers

  • Kate Craft

    Kate Craft
    Senior Professional Staff Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Maya Gomes

    Maya Gomes
    Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • Chao He

    Chao He
    Assistant Research Scientist Johns Hopkins University

  • Karl Hibbitts

    Karl Hibbitts
    Planetary Scientist Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Sarah Hörst

    Sarah Hörst
    Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • Dana Hurley

    Dana Hurley
    Planetary Scientist Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Kevin Lewis

    Photo not available
    Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • Kathleen Mandt

    Kathleen Mandt
    Senior Professional Staff Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Kirby Daniel Runyon

    Kirby Daniel Runyon
    Postdoctoral Research Scientist Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Abigail Rymer

    Abigail Rymer
    Space Physicist Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Emmy Smith

    Emmy Smith
    Associate Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • Sabine Stanley

    Sabine Stanley
    Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • Darrell Strobel

    Darrell Strobel
    Professor Johns Hopkins University

  • June Wicks

    June Wicks
    Associate Professor Johns Hopkins University

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