Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Victor Abrahamsson, Isik Kanik
Summary: This review article provides an overview of the instrument techniques used in the search for life on Mars and Ocean Worlds, as well as the ongoing developments in these techniques and ion mobility spectrometry. It also reviews the current developments in next-generation instruments for organic biosignature detection, such as capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, biosensors, and nanopore sensing.
FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. Aramendia, L. Gomez-Nubla, M. L. Tuite, K. H. Williford, K. Castro, J. M. Madariaga
Summary: Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are important biochemical components of life on Earth and potentially in other parts of our solar system. A Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy method has been developed for the detection of maleimide, allowing for semi-quantitative analysis with small sample mass. This non-destructive and effective technique provides a reference for future studies on maleimide and related compounds.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
William Bains, Janusz J. Petkowski, Sara Seager
Summary: Despite the inhospitable conditions on Venus for Earth life, it is still possible that life exists based on our understanding of the principles of life on Earth. There is sufficient energy, manageable energy requirements for water retention and biomass formation, conceivable defenses against sulfuric acid, and the speculative possibility of using concentrated sulfuric acid as a solvent. Limited availability of metals and a benign radiation environment further support the potential for life. Detecting life in the Venusian atmosphere through future astrobiology-focused space missions is a justifiable scientific endeavor.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William Bains, Janusz J. Petkowski, Paul B. Rimmer, Sara Seager
Summary: The atmosphere of Venus, particularly the chemistry within its cloud layers, presents many mysteries such as the presence of O-2, unknown compositions of large particles, and unusual abundance profiles of SO2 and H2O. This study proposes a hypothesis involving the presence of ammonia (NH3) which could explain these anomalies and suggest that Venus' clouds may be more habitable than previously thought. The hypothesis is based on existing observations and can be tested by future in situ measurements on Venus.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Rachana Agrawal, Weston P. Buchanan, Archit Arora, Athul P. Girija, Maxim De Jong, Sara Seager, Janusz J. Petkowski, Sarag J. Saikia, Christopher E. Carr, David H. Grinspoon, James M. Longuski
Summary: This article introduces a mission concept to explore the clouds of Venus in order to evaluate habitability and search for signs of life. A super-pressure variable float altitude balloon aerobot is proposed to cycle between different cloud layers and transmit data through an orbiter relay. The mission, scheduled for 2026, aims to complement other planned missions and shed light on the limits of habitability and the role of unknown chemistry or possibly life itself in the Venus atmosphere.
Article
Biology
Michael L. Wong, Stuart Bartlett, Sihe Chen, Louisa Tierney
Summary: We are entering a new era of astrobiology, where missions and telescopes are being designed and launched with the explicit goal of finding evidence of extraterrestrial life. Scientists need to exercise caution and responsibility when interpreting and disseminating results. There is a need to establish standards for evidence and reporting of biosignatures. Additionally, the study of life detection is closely linked to our understanding of what life is, the origins of life, and habitability. These questions should not be overlooked but should be seen as interconnected and furthered together. The concept of "genesity" is proposed as a more comprehensive characterization of habitability to include forms of life unknown to us.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Petra Schwendner, Andreas Riedo, Daniel J. Melton, Peter Horvath, Robert Lindner, Pascale Ehrenfreund, Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic, Petra Rettberg, Elke Rabbow, Frances Westall, Alexandra Bashir, Christine Moissl-Eichinger, Laura Garcia-Descalzo, Felipe Gomez, Ricardo Amils, Viggo Por Marteinsson, Nicolas Walter, Charles S. Cockell
Summary: The identification of reliable biomarkers is crucial for the search of extraterrestrial life. This study investigated if the anaerobic microbial metabolism of amino acids could leave a secondary biosignature indicating biological activity. The findings suggest that substantial anomalous enhancements of some amino acids may be a signature of the presence of biological processes.
FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Adriana C. Gomez-Buckley, Gordon M. Showalter, Michael L. Wong
Summary: The study of extreme environments on Earth helps in the search for life in the universe. Recent research has focused on the role of viruses in terrestrial ecosystems and their potential significance in extraterrestrial environments. This study proposes a mechanism called the 'viral elevator' which suggests that viruses can transport dissolved organic matter to a hypothetical sub-ice biosphere on Jupiter's moon Europa. This has implications for future exploration of life on Europa.
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Sara Seager, Janusz J. Petkowski, Christopher E. Carr, Sarag J. Saikia, Rachana Agrawal, Weston P. Buchanan, David H. Grinspoon, Monika U. Weber, Pete Klupar, Simon P. Worden, Iaroslav Iakubivskyi, Mihkel Pajusalu, Laila Kaasik
Summary: Scientists have been considering the potential existence of life in the clouds of Venus for over half a century. In situ atmospheric measurements using modern instruments can determine whether the cloud decks have the necessary characteristics to support life. A suite of instruments is proposed to measure the acidity, water content, presence of metals, organic material, and biosignature gases in the droplets. The mission also serves as preparation for sample return by studying the non-liquid cloud particles and informing collection and storage methods.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Peter M. Higgins, Christopher R. Glein, Charles S. Cockell
Summary: Research on the energy supply for potential hydrogenotrophic methanogens in Enceladus' subsurface ocean suggests that habitability depends on a delicate balance of factors including temperature, pH, and salinity. Further study of these parameters is needed to definitively assess habitability.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Robert J. Graham
Summary: The impact of CO2 on planetary temperature and ocean pH decreases with increasing pCO(2), resulting in smaller effects on high pCO(2) planets. Major CO2 disturbances on high pCO(2) planets in the outer habitable zone are likely to have mild or negligible impacts on surface temperature and ocean pH. The surface environment of the Phanerozoic Earth, with low pCO(2), may be unusually volatile compared to similar planets receiving lower insolation.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Steven D. Vance, Kathleen L. Craft, Everett Shock, Britney E. Schmidt, Jonathan Lunine, Kevin P. Hand, William B. Mckinnon, Elizabeth M. Spiers, Chase Chivers, Justin D. Lawrence, Natalie Wolfenbarger, Erin J. Leonard, Kirtland J. Robinson, Marshall J. Styczinski, Divya M. Persaud, Gregor Steinbrugge, Mikhail Y. Zolotov, Lynnae C. Quick, Jennifer E. C. Scully, Tracy M. Becker, Samuel M. Howell, Roger N. Clark, Andrew J. Dombard, Christopher R. Glein, Olivier Mousis, Mark A. Sephton, Julie Castillo-Rogez, Francis Nimmo, Alfred S. Mcewen, Murthy S. Gudipati, Insoo Jun, Xianzhe Jia, Frank Postberg, Krista M. Soderlund, Catherine M. Elder
Summary: The habitability of Europa is a complex property that requires collaborative investigation. The Europa Clipper mission aims to characterize the ice shell, ocean, composition, and geology of Europa, as well as explore potential activity and conduct reconnaissance for future missions. The mission's findings, combined with remote observations, will be used to assess Europa's habitability.
SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Michael C. Macey, Nisha K. Ramkissoon, Simone Cogliati, Mario Toubes-Rodrigo, Ben P. Stephens, Ezgi Kucukkilic-Stephens, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Victoria K. Pearson, Louisa J. Preston, Karen Olsson-Francis
Summary: This study examines the habitability of water on early Mars and investigates the formation of biosignatures. By simulating the chemical environment and introducing terrestrial sediment, the researchers found that the simulated martian fluids could support a microbial community and exhibited distinct differences from abiotic conditions.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Paul B. Rimmer, Sukrit Ranjan, Sarah Rugheimer
Summary: The study of the origin of life on Earth and the search for life on other planets are closely linked. Laboratory research guides exploration within our Solar System and informs future exoplanet observations. Exoplanet research provides statistical context to conclusions about the nature and origins of life.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mickael Baque, Theresa Backhaus, Joachim Meessen, Franziska Hanke, Ute Boettger, Nisha Ramkissoon, Karen Olsson-Francis, Michael Baumgartner, Daniela Billi, Alessia Cassaro, Rosa de la Torre Noetzel, Rene Demets, Howell Edwards, Pascale Ehrenfreund, Andreas Elsaesser, Bernard Foing, Frederic Foucher, Bjorn Huwe, Jasmin Joshi, Natalia Kozyrovska, Peter Lasch, Natuschka Lee, Stefan Leuko, Silvano Onofri, Sieglinde Ott, Claudia Pacelli, Elke Rabbow, Lynn Rothschild, Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Laura Selbmann, Paloma Serrano, Ulrich Szewzyk, Cyprien Verseux, Dirk Wagner, Frances Westall, Laura Zucconi, Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
Summary: Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as evidence of past or present life. However, the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment is still uncertain. To investigate this, seven biomolecules were exposed to a simulated martian environment for 469 days. Ultraviolet radiation had a significant impact on Raman spectra, but little change was observed when samples were shielded from UV. These findings support Mars missions searching for biosignatures underground and lay the foundation for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Catalina Romero-Guzman, Isabel Perez-Grande, Jose A. Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: InSight is a NASA mission that aims to explore the inner Mars and measure its seismology, heat flow, and reflexes. In addition, studying the thermal environment is a crucial objective of this mission. InSight successfully landed on Mars on November 26, 2018. Equipped with two solar panels and auxiliary sensors, InSight's thermal model uses the energy balance approach to analyze heat transfer processes and interactions with the Martian surroundings, with validation using the Mars Climate Database (MCD).
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. Sanchez-Lavega, T. del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, R. Hueso, M. de la Torre Juarez, G. M. Martinez, A. -M. Harri, M. Genzer, M. Hieta, J. Polkko, J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi, M. T. Lemmon, J. Pla-Garcia, D. Toledo, A. Vicente-Retortillo, D. Viudez-Moreiras, A. Munguira, L. K. Tamppari, C. Newman, J. Gomez-Elvira, S. Guzewich, T. Bertrand, V. Apestigue, I. Arruego, M. Wolff, D. Banfield, I. Jaakonaho, T. Makinen
Summary: This study uses the pressure sensors on Mars rover Perseverance to measure the pressure field in the Jezero crater on an hourly basis. The study covers the period from sol 15 to sol 460, revealing the daily pressure cycle, seasonal evolution of the mean pressure field driven by CO2 sublimation and deposition at the poles, characterization of atmospheric tides and their relationship to dust content, wave disturbances with periods of 2-5 sols, short period oscillations interpreted as internal gravity waves, transient pressure drops produced by vortices, and turbulent fluctuations. The study also analyzes the effects of a regional dust storm over Jezero at L-s 155 degrees on pressure measurements.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo Amils, Cristina Escudero, Monike Oggerin, Fernando Puente Sanchez, Alejandro Arce Rodriguez, David Fernandez Remolar, Nuria Rodriguez, Miriam Garcia Villadangos, Jose Luis Sanz, Carlos Briones, Monica Sanchez-Roman, Felipe Gomez, Tania Leandro, Mercedes Moreno-Paz, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Antonio Molina, Fernando Tornos, Irene Sanchez-Andrea, Kenneth Timmis, Dietmar H. Pieper, Victor Parro
Summary: Microbial activity plays a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of planet Earth. A study on the deep subsurface microbiome of the Iberian Pyrite Belt revealed unexpected diversity and novel activities such as anaerobic ammonium oxidation and anaerobic methane oxidation. Various complementary metabolic activities were found, and genomic analysis identified genes involved in key biogeochemical cycles.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi, M. de la Torre Juarez, A. Sanchez-Lavega, R. Hueso, G. Martinez, M. T. Lemmon, C. E. Newman, A. Munguira, M. Hieta, L. K. Tamppari, J. Polkko, D. Toledo, E. Sebastian, M. D. Smith, I. Jaakonaho, M. Genzer, A. De Vicente-Retortillo, D. Viudez-Moreiras, M. Ramos, A. Saiz-Lopez, A. Lepinette, M. Wolff, R. J. Sullivan, J. Gomez-Elvira, V. Apestigue, P. G. Conrad, T. Del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, N. Murdoch, I. Arruego, D. Banfield, J. Boland, A. J. Brown, J. Ceballos, M. Dominguez-Pumar, S. Espejo, A. G. Fairen, R. Ferrandiz, E. Fischer, M. Garcia-Villadangos, S. Gimenez, F. Gomez-Gomez, S. D. Guzewich, A. -m. Harri, J. J. Jimenez, V. Jimenez, T. Makinen, M. Marin, C. Martin, J. Martin-Soler, A. Molina, L. Mora-Sotomayor, S. Navarro, V. Peinado, I. Perez-Grande, J. Pla-Garcia, M. Postigo, O. Prieto-Ballesteros, S. C. R. Rafkin, M. I. Richardson, J. Romeral, C. Romero, H. Savijarvi, J. T. Schofield, J. Torres, R. Urqui, S. Zurita
Summary: NASA's Perseverance rover's Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is collecting data at Jezero crater, revealing the spatial and temporal variability of meteorology. Measurements of temperature, aerosol concentrations, wind patterns, and relative humidity indicate diurnal variations, complex hydrologic cycles, and local topography-driven wind patterns.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Karen Olsson-Francis, Peter T. Doran, Vyacheslav Ilyin, Francois Raulin, Petra Rettberg, Gerhard Kminek, Maria-Paz Zorzano Mier, Athena Coustenis, Niklas Hedman, Omar Al Shehhi, Eleonora Ammannito, James Bernardini, Masaki Fujimoto, Olivier Grasset, Frank Groen, Alex Hayes, Sarah Gallagher, K. Praveen Kumar, Christian Mustin, Akiko Nakamura, Elaine Seasly, Yohey Suzuki, Jing Peng, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Silvio Sinibaldi, Kanyan Xu, Maxim Zaitsev
Summary: Planetary protection guidelines for Martian exploration have gained significant attention due to increasing scientific interest in the habitability of Mars, advancements in technology, and the involvement of various organizations in space activities. The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection has developed international standards in consultation with the scientific community and space agencies, providing guidance for compliance with the Outer Space Treaty. In 2021, the Panel assessed recent scientific data and literature to evaluate the planetary protection requirements for Mars and discuss future steps for robotic missions.
LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pablo L. Finkel, Daniel Carrizo, Victor Parro, Laura Sanchez-Garcia
Summary: Lipids, as organic compounds forming cell membranes, are widely present in terrestrial environments and considered useful biomarkers for life detection on Earth. They have membrane-forming properties under hostile conditions, making them potential biomarkers for life beyond Earth. Unlike nucleic acids or proteins, lipids can retain diagnostic information about their biological source for millions of years, which is crucial in the study of astrobiology. This work explores the potential of lipid biomarkers, along with stable carbon isotope analysis, as a powerful tool for investigating the existence of life on Mars.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. Vicente-Retortillo, G. M. Martinez, M. T. Lemmon, R. Hueso, J. R. Johnson, R. Sullivan, C. E. Newman, E. Sebastian, D. Toledo, V. Apestigue, I. Arruego, A. Munguira, A. Sanchez-Lavega, N. Murdoch, M. Gillier, A. Stott, L. Mora-Sotomayor, T. Bertrand, L. K. Tamppari, M. de la Torre Juarez, J. -A. Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: We analyzed the temporal variations in surface albedo at Jezero crater during the first 350 sols of the Mars 2020 mission. The measurements showed that the albedo changes were caused by dust devils under normal conditions and a dust storm at a specific solar longitude. The albedo decrease during the dust storm was significantly larger than the changes caused by dust devils during calm periods.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alexander E. Stott, Naomi Murdoch, Martin Gillier, Don Banfield, Tanguy Bertrand, Baptiste Chide, Manuel De la Torre Juarez, Ricardo Hueso, Ralph Lorenz, German Martinez, Asier Munguira, Luis Mora Sotomayor, Sara Navarro, Claire Newman, Paolo Pilleri, Jorge Pla-Garcia, Jose Antonio Rodriguez-Manfredi, Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, Michael Smith, Daniel Viudez Moreiras, Nathan Williams, Sylvestre Maurice, Roger C. Wiens, David Mimoun
Summary: We use SuperCam's Mars microphone to provide information on high-frequency wind speed and turbulence on Mars. We demonstrate the sensitivity of the microphone signal level to wind speed and establish a power law dependence. A calibration function is developed using Gaussian process regression, which takes the microphone signal and air temperature as inputs to estimate the wind speed. This enables us to analyze the fast fluctuations and turbulent behavior of the wind on Mars.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
M. de la Torre Juarez, A. Chavez, L. K. Tamppari, A. Munguira, G. Martinez, R. Hueso, B. Chide, N. Murdoch, A. E. Stott, S. Navarro, A. Sanchez-Lavega, G. S. Orton, D. Viudez-Moreiras, D. J. Banfield, J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: We investigate the rapid thermal fluctuations observed by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer on the Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater, and their dependence on local time and season. The study also sheds light on wind fluctuations that contribute to turbulent flows and expands our knowledge of near-surface fluctuations on Mars. The findings highlight the need for stochastic models to account for sudden events that cause exponential tails in the probability distribution functions of fluctuations.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
D. Toledo, L. Gomez, V. Apestigue, I. Arruego, M. Smith, A. Munguira, G. Martinez, P. Patel, A. Sanchez-Lavega, M. Lemmon, L. Tamppari, D. Viudez-Moreiras, R. Hueso, A. Vicente-Retortillo, C. Newman, R. Lorenz, M. Yela, M. de la Torre Juarez, J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: By analyzing the RDS observations, we found that the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer instrument on board NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover can be used to characterize the Martian atmosphere. We inferred that high-altitude aerosol layers consist of ice from Ls=39-150 degrees and dust from Ls=150-262 degrees through measuring the irradiance at different wavelengths.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Dileep Kumar, Manuel Dominguez-Pumar, Elisa Sayrol-Clols, Josefina Torres, Mercedes Marin, Javier Gomez-Elvira, Luis Mora, Sara Navarro, Jose Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: This study aims to demonstrate how data-driven methods can improve the resilience of sensors, particularly for complex sensors with multiple intermediate variables, by using calibration data to train an inverse algorithm (IA). The method consists of three phases: initial calibration and IA design, placing the sensor at the intended location and training a data-driven model using sensor data, and reducing errors using the data-driven algorithm when partial damage is detected. The proposed method is tested with the intermediate data of the wind sensor of the TWINS instrument (NASA InSight mission), and it is shown that even simple methods like k-nearest neighbor can successfully recover missing data compared to complex deep learning models.
MACHINE LEARNING-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
M. de la Torre Juarez, A. Chavez, L. K. Tamppari, A. Munguira, G. Martinez, R. Hueso, B. Chide, N. Murdoch, A. E. Stott, S. Navarro, A. Sanchez-Lavega, G. S. Orton, D. Viudez-Moreiras, D. J. Banfield, J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi
Summary: This study examines the diurnal cycle of rapid thermal fluctuations on Mars, revealing exponential tails in the probability distribution functions and different power density spectra. The scale dependence of the fluctuations confirms intermittent outbursts associated with slower fluctuations, contributing to a better understanding of the near-surface Martian atmosphere.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
