OOIR: Observatory of International Research

Papers

(The TQCC of International Journal of Astrobiology is 3. The table below lists those papers that are above that threshold based on CrossRef citation counts [max. 250 papers]. The publications cover those that have been published in the past four years, i.e., from 2022-05-01 to 2026-05-01.)

Article	Citations
The social science perspective on the Fermi paradox	8
Identifying optimal decision-making strategies and determining effective messaging to maximize the expected outcomes of potential human–extraterrestrial encounters	8
Observation of significant photosynthesis in garden cress and cyanobacteria under simulated illumination from a K dwarf star	8
Abiogenesis: the Carter argument reconsidered	7
Heat-induced changes in molecular biosignatures and the influence of Mars-relevant minerals	7
Detecting carotenoids in salt crystals: insights into biosignature detection under Mars-like proton irradiation using in situ and ex situ Raman spectroscopy	7
Alien technology, conjunction and ergodicity	7
The future of intelligence in the Universe: a call for humility	7
How can planetary back-contamination protection guidelines inform biosafety for synthetic biology?	7
Formalizing the Fermi paradox and combining consistent explanatory hypotheses	6
If extraterrestrial intelligence exists, it is unable to recognize humans as intelligent beings – ERRATUM	6
How common are oxygenic photosynthesis and large coal deposits on exoplanets?	6
Role of horizontal gene transfers and microbial ecology in the evolution of fluxes through the tricarboxylic acid cycle	5
Houston, we have a problem…or do we? The trajectory of astrobioethics and Indigenous thought	5
Extraterrestrial nature reserves (ETNRs)	5
Fungus Penicillium rubens isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) shows faster colony growth and better spore resistance to cosmic radiation than type strain	5
Succession of the bacterial community from a spacecraft assembly clean room when enriched in brines relevant to Mars	5
Special issue: Open questions and next steps in astrobiology in Europe – celebrating 20 years of EANA	5
Short-term survival of tardigrades ( Ramazzottius cf. varieornatus and Hypsibius ex	4
Review of “Life in Space – Astrobiology for non-scientists”	4
If extraterrestrial intelligence exists, it is unable to recognize humans as intelligent beings	4
Astrobiology: resolution of the statistical Drake equation by Maccone's lognormal method in 50 steps	4
Stromatolite photomorphogenesis: lighting up their shape	4
Drosophila melanogaster: a promising system for space biology research	4
Subsurface scientific exploration of extraterrestrial environments (MINAR 5): analogue science, technology and education in the Boulby Mine, UK – CORRIGENDUM	4

Astrovirology: how viruses enhance our understanding of life in the Universe	4
Fifty years of astrobiology: mapping researcher communities with topic-based network analyses	4
Abundance, isolation and characterization of salinotolerant bacteria in a spacecraft assembly facility	4
Regular variability of planet-hosting stars as a periodic environmental driver for prebiotic chemistry	3
Iron reduction as a viable metabolic pathway in Enceladus’ ocean	3
The interstellar object significance scale (Loeb Scale): astronomical classification of interstellar objects	3
Runaway growth of planetesimals revisited: presenting criteria required for realistic modeling of planetesimal growth	3
Astroecology: bridging the gap between ecology and astrobiology	3
Hype, skin in the game, and the stability of cooperative science	3
Self-replicating probes are imminent – implications for SETI	3
Biosignature preservation in FaRLiP cyanobacteria after prolonged desiccation and its relevance to space missions searching for life	3
Experimental and theoretical studies of the interactions of alanine onto surfaces of olivine and montmorillonite: relevance in astrobiology	3
Astrobiological applications of μ-mapping X-ray fluorescence spectrometry	3
Megatsunamis and microbial life on early Mars	3
Microbial protocols for spacecraft: 2. Biocidal effects of Delrin and nylon in sealed compartments may enhance bioburden reductions in planetary spacecraft	3
Astrobiocentrism: reflections on challenges in the transition to a vision of life and humanity in space	3