Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Katharina Kaiser, Fabian Schulz, Julien F. Maillard, Felix Hermann, Iago Pozo, Diego Pena, H. James Cleaves, Aaron S. Burton, Gregoire Danger, Carlos Afonso, Scott Sandford, Leo Gross
Summary: Researchers used high-resolution atomic force microscopy to atomically resolve individual molecules from Murchison meteorite samples. They also proposed a method for extracting and preparing meteorite samples for investigation. By processing the samples, they were able to increase the fraction of molecules that could be resolved by atomic force microscopy and identify organic constituents and molecular moieties.
METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alan N. Heays, Tereza Kaiserova, Paul B. Rimmer, Antonin Knizek, Lukas Petera, Svatopluk Civis, Libor Juha, Roman Dudzak, Manuel Scherf, Helmut Lammer, Robert Pascal, Martin Ferus
Summary: The high-energy-density synthesis of NxOy species was simulated using laser-induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB), and the results showed that the measured yields of the products were in broad agreement with previous experiments and models, except for N2O, which exceeded the previous experimental results and could not contribute to global warming.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Coline Serra, Justin Lange, Quentin Blancart Remaury, Ramzi Timoumi, Gregoire Danger, Boris Laurent, Laurent Remusat, Claude Geffroy Rodier, Pauline Poinot
Summary: Molecular identification is a crucial issue in astrobiology, playing a key role in investigating the origins of life on Earth and the potential spread of extraterrestrial organic matter. However, the low concentration of molecules in celestial bodies presents significant challenges for this project. This study proposes a novel integrative analytical workflow to enhance the comprehensive analysis of organic markers in these objects.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Laura Tenelanda-Osorio, Alexis Bouquet, Thomas Javelle, Olivier Mousis, Fabrice Duvernay, Gregoire Danger
Summary: Laboratory experiments show that methanol ice can produce different volatile organic compounds under different UV irradiation doses and temperatures. With increasing UV irradiation, the production of heavier complex organic molecules increases. Ketones and esters are formed at the earliest stages of irradiation, while aldehydes are formed before their alcohol counterparts. Ethers seem to be precursors of a large set of complex organic molecules.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
B. Laurent, J. Maillard, C. Afonso, G. Danger, P. Giusti, L. Remusat
Summary: Primitive carbonaceous chondrites exhibit a high diversity in terms of their organic content and hydrothermal alteration. This study utilized laser desorption ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (LDI-FTICR-MS) to analyze the macromolecular carbon of carbonaceous chondrites. The results show that the abundance of chemical families is correlated to the degree of aqueous alteration, with weakly altered chondrites retaining the highest chemical heterogeneity. Moreover, similarities between the insoluble organic matter of Orgueil and Tarda suggest that they originated from the outer belt region. The application of FTICR-MS on returned asteroidal samples could provide insights into the origin and evolution of organic compounds in the early solar system.
GEOCHEMICAL PERSPECTIVES LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alexander Ruf, Gregoire Danger
Summary: This article presents a method for generating and analyzing complex astrochemical data using a data-driven and unsupervised approach. The results demonstrate that this method significantly improves the structural characterization of large complex organic molecules in interstellar ice analogs.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gregoire Danger, Alexander Ruf, Thomas Javelle, Julien Maillard, Vassilissa Vinogradoff, Carlos Afonso, Isabelle Schmitz-Afonso, Laurent Remusat, Zelimir Gabelica, Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between soluble and insoluble organic matter in laboratory experiments and meteorites, providing new insights into the evolution of organic matter in the Solar System. Through analysis of their chemical fingerprints and elemental ratios, the study reveals a connection between the two classes of organic matter. The results also demonstrate the complexity of organic matter formation in meteorites and suggest the influence of factors such as aqueous alteration.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Robert Pascal, Addy Pross
Summary: Recent scientific research suggests that the mental state of life may be a result of its physical state, providing further insights into the physico-chemical process by which life emerged from non-life.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Robert Pascal, Addy Pross
Summary: One of the most remarkable aspects of life is its mental dimension, the origin and essence of which remain a mysterious scientific puzzle. Recent discoveries in microbiology suggest that even the simplest life forms possess highly developed cognitive abilities, possibly indicating that these capabilities emerged early in the evolutionary process. Additionally, the discovery of a new dimension within chemical space of dynamic kinetically stable (DKS) chemical systems offers insights into the emergence of systems with non-physical characteristics, including cognition and self. These findings, combined with a physically based understanding of evolution, provide a possible explanation for the physical/chemical basis of life's mental state and its emergence, potentially advancing our understanding of the "mind from matter" problem.
ISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Khaoula Jaouadi, Mehdi Abdellaoui, Etienne Levernier, Pierre-Adrien Payard, Etienne Derat, Thomas Le Saux, Cyril Ollivier, Stephane Torelli, Ludovic Jullien, Raphael Plasson, Louis Fensterbank, Laurence Grimaud
Summary: The metallaphotoredox catalyzed cross-coupling of an aryl bromide with an alkyl bis(catecholato)silicate has been analyzed in depth, revealing two possible reaction mechanisms.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
A. Garcia, C. Serra, Q. Blancart Remaury, A. D. Garcia, M. Righezza, C. Meinert, P. Poinot, G. Danger
Summary: Gas chromatography (GC) coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is essential for targeted in situ analyses of extraterrestrial samples. The study demonstrates the ability of GC-FT-orbitrap-MS to separate amino acid enantiomers and achieve lower LOD values compared to conventional GC-MS techniques. This technology development is important for future space missions.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Coline Serra, Vassilissa Vinogradoff, Pauline Poinot, Quentin Blancart Remaury, Fabrice Duvernay, Louis Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt, Gregoire Danger, Philippe Claeys, Steven Goderis, Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
Summary: This study characterizes the soluble organic matter (SOM) of Asuka 12236, one of the most primitive members of the CM group, and compares it with the SOM from other CM chondrites. The results show that organic compounds may be transformed more rapidly than minerals during hydrothermal alteration, and this organic matter evolution depends on water content, temperature, and pressure. Additional laboratory experimentation is needed to better understand the impact of aqueous alteration on organic matter in chondrites.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Orion Farr, Nil Gaudu, Gregoire Danger, Michael J. Russell, Daniel Ferry, Wolfgang Nitschke, Simon Duval
Summary: The shared coordination geometries between metal ions in reactive minerals and enzymatic metal cofactors suggest a similarity in mechanisms and evolution between biological metabolism and non-biological chemical mineralogy. By simulating the oxidation reaction of reactive minerals in the presence of seawater, we found that methane oxidation yields not only methanol but also other organic compounds. This discovery reveals a previously unidentified carbon cycling mechanism in modern and ancient environments, and provides insights into the synthesis of organic compounds necessary for the emergence of life.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
O. Mousis, A. Bouquet, Y. Langevin, N. Andre, H. Boithias, G. Durry, F. Faye, P. Hartogh, J. Helbert, L. Iess, S. Kempf, A. Masters, F. Postberg, J. -B. Renard, P. Vernazza, A. Vorburger, P. Wurz, D. H. Atkinson, S. Barabash, M. Berthomier, J. Brucato, M. Cable, J. Carter, S. Cazaux, A. Coustenis, G. Danger, V. Dehant, T. Fornaro, P. Garnier, T. Gautier, O. Groussin, L. Z. Hadid, J. -C. Ize, I. Kolmasova, J. -P. Lebreton, S. Le Maistre, E. Lellouch, J. I. Lunine, K. E. Mandt, Z. Martins, D. Mimoun, Q. Nenon, G. M. Munoz Caro, P. Rannou, H. Rauer, P. Schmitt-Kopplin, A. Schneeberger, M. Simons, K. Stephan, T. Van Hoolst, J. Vaverka, M. Wieser, L. Woerner
Summary: Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, has an internal water ocean and expels ocean material into space. The Moonraker mission aims to investigate the composition of the plume formed by the ocean jets to understand the moon's habitability and origin. This proposed mission will use advanced instruments to pave the way for future landed missions.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alexander Ruf, Gregoire Danger
Summary: The mol2net method has been used to generate and analyze molecular networks of complex astrochemical data in an unsupervised and data-driven manner. The study significantly refines the structural characterization of large complex organic molecules in interstellar ice analogs, providing additional information on key transformations and molecular structures.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)