Kinohi Institute, Inc.

Mars colony, colonize Mars, human colonization of Mars, human exploration of Mars, climate change

Research and Exploration into the Origin, Evolution, and Complexity of Life

“Understanding the origin of life and its distribution in the Universe is too important to leave to adults.”

From conversations with Alec, age 5, circa 1996


The institute is particularly interested in the ability of microbial life to survive in the ices of Earth's cryosphere, and how they adapt in times of global warming. Much of the Institute's work centers on developing non-destructive, non-contact technology capable of finding and characterizing microbial life living within these icy ecosystems and similar habitats on other worlds. Where possible the Institute tries to transfer promising technology to medical diagnostic tasks.


Boulder floating on the Anuchin Glacier in the Untersee Oasis, Dronning Maud Land, Russian sector of Antarctica.


International interdisciplinary team exploring Lake Untersee, high in the mountains of Dronning Maud Land, Russian Sector, Antarctica. This meromictic lake, covered with ice for at least 10,000 years, hosts a rich photosynthetic microbial community within the ice of the lake.

For further information contact 

Michael C. Storrie-Lombardi, M.D.

Executive Director

email: mike@kinohi.org

The Institute is a California non-profit 501c organization devoted to exploration, research and education.

For web sites providing information on origins of life, evolution, adaptability, and extreme environments click here.