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Astrobiology, formerly known as exobiology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field concerned with the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology considers the question of whether extraterrestrial life exists, and if it does, how humans can detect it.

121 Results for the subject "Astrobiology":

CatalysisReaction: Life, Origins, and the System

Terry Kee is an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Leeds. After earning his doctorate degree at the University of Durham (1989), he spent time as a SERC-NATO postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1989–1990) with the now Nobel Laureate Richard R. Schrock. His most recent research in the fields of astrobiology and abiogenesis aims to combine aspects of chemistry, physics, and philosophy to formulate a general theory of living. He served as president of the Astrobiology Society of Britain from 2010 to 2016.

Terence P. Kee Publication date: 2017/05/11
Convergent evolution and the search for biosignatures within the solar system and beyond

Highlights•Convergent evolution is presented as a unifying principle for astrobiology and SETI.•The concept of Minimal Convergent Traits (MCTs) is introduced.•Instruments for in situ exploration missions to Europa are suggested.•Implications of convergent evolution for SETI are described.

Claudio L. Flores Martinez Publication date: 2015/11/01
Time-resolved stand-off UV-Raman spectroscopy for planetary exploration

Highlights•We demonstrate an excellent potential of stand-off UV-Raman spectroscopy for astrobiology and planetary exploration.•Our prototype is capable of the identification of both minerals and organics.•All selected samples were unambiguously identified at distances on the order of 6 m.•The gated detector is essential for improving signal-to-noise ratio of the Raman signal.

M. Skulinova Publication date: 2014/03/01
Astrobiology: A pathway to adult science literacy?

AbstractAdult science illiteracy is widespread. This is concerning for astrobiology, or indeed any other area of science in the communication of science to public audiences. Where and how does this scientific illiteracy arise in the journey to adulthood? Two astrobiology education projects have hinted that science illiteracy may begin in high school. This relationship between high school science education and the public understanding of science is poorly understood. Do adults forget their science education, or did they never grasp it in the first place? A 2003 science education project raised these questions when 24 16-year-olds from 10 Sydney high schools were brought into contact with real science. The unexpected results suggested that even good high school science students have a poor understanding of how science is really undertaken in the field and in the laboratory. This concept is being further tested in a new high school science education project, aimed at the same age group, u Read more...

C.A. Oliver Publication date: 2007/10/01
A half-century of terrestrial analog studies: From craters on the Moon to searching for life on Mars

AbstractTerrestrial analogs to the Moon and Mars have been used to advance knowledge in planetary science for over a half-century. They are useful in studies of comparative geology of the terrestrial planets and rocky moons, in astronaut training and testing of exploration technologies, and in developing hypotheses and exploration strategies in astrobiology. In fact, the use of terrestrial analogs can be traced back to the origins of comparative geology and astrobiology, and to the early phases of the Apollo astronaut program. Terrestrial analog studies feature prominently throughout the history of both NASA and the USGS’ Astrogeology Research Program. In light of current international plans for a return missions to the Moon, and eventually to send sample return and manned missions to Mars, as well as the recent creation of various analog research and development programs, this historical perspective is timely.

Richard Léveillé Publication date: 2010/03/01
Reduced and oxidised scytonemin: Theoretical protocol for Raman spectroscopic identification of potential key biomolecules for astrobiology

Highlights•We propose a new, theoretically plausible structure for oxidised scytonemin.•DFT calculations for scytonemin, red-scytonemin and the new oxid-scytonemin are done.•Their theoretical Raman spectroscopic data and λmax UV-absorption data is presented.•Vibrational spectroscopic assignments allow them to be detected and identified.•We propose a protocol for their analytical discrimination.

Tereza Varnali Publication date: 2014/01/03
On the definition of Raman spectroscopic detection limits for the analysis of biomarkers in solid matrices

AbstractRaman spectroscopy is one of the techniques that is being advocated for adoption in astrobiology for the detection of extinct or extant life on planetary surfaces extraterrestrially. A discussion on the definition of the Raman spectroscopic limits of detection and the operational factors which influence the data observed is needed for the evaluation of the results. This research paper forms a starting point for the discussion of the meaning of detection limits of biomarker molecules – solids dispersed in solid matrices – and the consequences for astrobiological research as this will have implications on the analytical protocols and spectrometer design for remote field-operated spectrometers.

P. Vandenabeele Publication date: 2012/03/01
ReviewLichens, new and promising material from experiments in astrobiology

AbstractMany lichen species are regarded as extremophiles in terms of temperature, radiation and desiccation survival. Therefore, lichens have been previously proposed, together with unicellular algae and bacteria, as the living system most likely to resist the extreme conditions of outer space. This enables, following the “Panspermia” theory, speculation about the possibility of life transfer between Earth and other planets. Different experiments have been designed to establish the survival capability of these organisms exposed to space conditions. In particular, the damaging effect of solar UV was studied under various protecting conditions. Different lichen species were exposed to space in the BIOPAN-5 and BIOPAN-6 facilities of the European Space Agency located at the outer shell of the Russian Earth orbiting FOTON M2 satellite. Chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange systems were used for the measurement of photosynthetic parameters. All exposed lichens, independently of the Read more...

Leopoldo G. Sancho Publication date: 2008/08/01
Searches for interstellar molecules of potential prebiotic importance

AbstractInterstellar chemistry leads to the formation of many prebiologically important molecules and is therefore of the fundamental interest to Astrobiology. Many organics can be produced in the gas phase where they can be detected. Molecules formed by reactions on the surfaces of dust grains are also best detected by millimeter-wave observations of sources in which the products of grain-surface chemistry have been deposited into the gas phase. In this article, we present a summary of the status of several searches for potential prebiotic molecules – aziridine, 2H-azirine, pyrimidine and glycine – in the hot molecular cores Sgr B2(N-LMH), W51 e1/e2 and Orion KL. Detections of these organic molecules would strengthen the thesis that interstellar organic matter, delivered in cometary impacts, could have played an important role in the prebiotic chemistry of the early Earth.

Yi-Jehng Kuan Publication date: 2004/01/01
Development of a system for determination of the 13C/12C isotopic ratio with high spatial resolution

AbstractStable carbon isotopes play an important role in the interpretation of biological activity, particularly when the fossil record is studied. In combination with morphological and chemical data, isotopic information can be useful in paleontology and astrobiology.In this paper the development of a microanalytical ion beam system for the measurement of the carbon isotope ratio with high spatial resolution and good statistics is presented. The technique used is elastic scattering of alpha particles with an energy of 2.75 MeV. At this energy the 13C cross-section is enhanced relative to the Rutherford cross-section and while the 12C cross-section is reduced. The optimisation of the system is described, including sample preparation and the design of the particle detection system for high efficiency combined with good energy resolution. Finally, some results from the initial test run of the system are shown and discussed.

Per Kristiansson Publication date: 2004/06/01
Vanguard—a European robotic astrobiology-focussed Mars sub-surface mission proposal

AbstractWe present a new European Mars mission proposal to build on the UK-led Beagle2 Mars mission and continue its astrobiology-focussed investigation of Mars. The small surface element to be delivered to the Martian surface—Vanguard—is designed to be carried by a Mars Express-type spacecraft bus to Mars and adopts a similar entry, descent and landing system as Beagle2. The surface element comprises a triad of robotic devices—a lander, a micro-rover of the Sojourner class for surface mobility, and three ground-penetrating moles mounted onto the rover for sub-surface penetration to 5m depth. The major onboard instruments on the rover include a Raman spectrometer/imager, a laser plasma spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer—these laser instruments provide the basis for in situ “remote” sensing of the sub-surface Martian environment within a powerful scientific package. The moles carry the instruments’ sensor head array to the sub-surface. The moles are thus required to un Read more...

Alex Ellery Publication date: 2005/02/01
Astrosociology and the Capacity of Major World Religions to Contextualize the Possibility of Life Beyond Earth

AbstractAs the scientific view of life as an emergent property in the universe continues to gain traction, it has become increasingly necessary to assess the potential for religious engagement with astrobiological issues. Astrobiology is an endeavor conducted on behalf of all humanity, and the fruits of its continued progress promise to have a far-reaching impact on every belief system and worldview. While the body of literature gauging the religious implications of the possibility of life beyond Earth continues to expand, there has, to date, been a disproportionate emphasis placed on the examination of Christian theology. Given that more than two-thirds of the world's population is non-Christian, astrosociological outreach to the religious community should strive to encompass all of the major religions of the world. This paper seeks to provide an overview assessment of the world religious landscape as it relates to astrosociology through an examination of the nineteen largest religiou Read more...

E.M. McAdamis Publication date: 2011/01/01
Near infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy for isotopic analyses of CH4 on future Martian surface missions

Highlights•Portable ultra high precision NIR CRDS for ambient methane isotopic analysis.•The detection limit is down to 1.4×10−12 cm−1.

Y. Chen Publication date: 2015/01/01
Development of extraction protocols for life detection biosensor-based instruments

Highlights•The effect of sonication on the extraction process is negligible.•The solvent system does not cause a remarkable increase of the extraction efficiency.•An increase of the extraction efficiency was observed by increasing the temperature.

Teresa Fornaro Publication date: 2013/09/15
Obliquity variations of a moonless Earth

AbstractWe numerically explore the obliquity (axial tilt) variations of a hypothetical moonless Earth. Previous work has shown that the Earth’s Moon stabilizes Earth’s obliquity such that it remains within a narrow range, between 22.1° and 24.5°. Without lunar influence, a frequency map analysis by Laskar et al. (Laskar, J., Joutel, F., Robutel, P. [1993]. Nature 361, 615–617) showed that the obliquity could vary between 0° and 85°. This has left an impression in the astrobiology community that a big moon is necessary to maintain a habitable climate on an Earth-like planet. Using a modified version of the orbital integrator mercury, we calculate the obliquity evolution for moonless Earths with various initial conditions for up to 4 Gyr. We find that while obliquity varies significantly more than that of the actual Earth over 100,000 year timescales, the obliquity remains within a constrained range, typically 20–25° in extent, for timescales of hundreds of millions of yea Read more...

Jack J. Lissauer Publication date: 2012/01/01
Back to the Moon: The scientific rationale for resuming lunar surface exploration

AbstractThe lunar geological record has much to tell us about the earliest history of the Solar System, the origin and evolution of the Earth–Moon system, the geological evolution of rocky planets, and the near-Earth cosmic environment throughout Solar System history. In addition, the lunar surface offers outstanding opportunities for research in astronomy, astrobiology, fundamental physics, life sciences and human physiology and medicine. This paper provides an interdisciplinary review of outstanding lunar science objectives in all of these different areas. It is concluded that addressing them satisfactorily will require an end to the 40-year hiatus of lunar surface exploration, and the placing of new scientific instruments on, and the return of additional samples from, the surface of the Moon. Some of these objectives can be achieved robotically (e.g., through targeted sample return, the deployment of geophysical networks, and the placing of antennas on the lunar surface to form ra Read more...

I.A. Crawford Publication date: 2012/12/01
Research paperFormation of glycine from HCN and H2O: A computational mechanistic study

Highlights•Theoretical (CBS-QB3) reaction pathways for the formation of glycine.•Two pathways for amino malononitrile monoamide + 2H2O → glycine + HNCO + NH3.•The pathway involving an amino ketone was much more favored.•Addition of a catalytic H2O greatly enhanced steps occurring by H rearrangement.

Hyun Moo Lee Publication date: 2017/05/01
Astronomical searches for nitrogen heterocycles

AbstractWe have conducted extensive astronomical searches for the N-bearing ring molecules pyridine, quinoline and isoquinoline towards the circumstellar envelopes of carbon-rich stars, and for interstellar pyrimidine in hot molecular cores. Here we report the derived upper limits on the column densities of these molecules, and summarize the current status of these observations.

Steven B. Charnley Publication date: 2005/01/01
Identification of the perchlorate parent salts at the Phoenix Mars landing site and possible implications

Highlights•New analyses of Phoenix data identifies dominant perchlorate salt as calcium-perchlorate.•Results suggest that Ca(ClO4)2 in soil has rarely, if ever, been in contact with liquid water and thus did not form by evaporation or sublimation.•Formation of Ca- and Mg-(ClO4)2 is consistent with interaction of atmospheric HClO4 with Ca- and Mg-carbonates.

Samuel P. Kounaves Publication date: 2014/04/01
Martian zeolites as a source of atmospheric methane

Highlights•Chabazite and clinoptilolite may form a storage reservoir of methane in the martian subsurface.•The destabilization of a localized layer of a few mm/year is enough to explain the observations.•The methane release over the ages could be due to impacts, seismic activity or erosion.•These minerals could explain the variation of methane level observed by MSL around Gale Crater.

Olivier Mousis Publication date: 2016/11/01
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