cryobiology
/ˌkraɪoʊbaɪˈɒlədʒi/
Definition
The branch of biology that studies the effects of extremely low temperatures on living organisms and the application of such conditions to preserve biological materials.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'kryos' meaning 'icy cold' or 'frost' and 'biology' from the Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' and 'logia' meaning 'study of'. It emerged in the 20th century to describe the scientific study of life under freezing conditions.
In the news
While not directly detailed in the featured paper summaries, the term appears as a category in this NASA newsletter because it is a vital field for long-term space exploration, particularly regarding the preservation of biological samples and resources for future missions.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,204 12 June 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology News