Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
George K. Tan, Anna Simpson, Samuel Holtzen, Elena Amador, Morgan L. Cable, Thomas Cantrell, Thomas Cullen, Zach Duca, Diana Gentry, Jessica Kirby, Heather McCraig, Gayathri Murukesan, Aditya Patel, Aaron Pital, Erika Rader, Vincent Rennie, Scot Sutton, Adam Stevens, Jarah Whitehead, David C. Cullen, Wolf Geppert, Amanda M. Stockton
Summary: This study provides important insights for future Mars sample collection strategies by analyzing sampling in two Mars analogue environments in Iceland. The results show that large spacing is needed for sampling in aged volcanic regions, while smaller spacing is required for sampling in younger glacial-volcanic environments.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Dina M. Bower, Clayton S. C. Yang, Tilak Hewagama, Conor A. Nixon, Shahid Aslam, Patrick L. Whelley, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, Feng Jin, Jennifer Ruliffson, John R. Kolasinski, Alan C. Samuels
Summary: Raman spectroscopy and LIBS are complementary techniques for comprehensive characterization of geologic environments; the study aimed to distinguish different environmental regimes based on mineral and biomolecule identification in rocks and sediments; the combination of techniques successfully identified major mineral polytypes and a large diversity of biomolecules in ice-rock samples.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
D. M. Bower, A. C. McAdam, C. S. C. Yang, M. Millan, R. Arevalo, C. Achilles, C. Knudson, T. Hewagama, C. A. Nixon, C. B. Fishman, S. S. Johnson, Jacob Bleacher, Patrick Whelley
Summary: The detection of life in the solar system relies on accurately identifying the signs of life and habitability. Organic molecules are crucial for life, but they can also be present in non-biological processes. In this study, the researchers found signatures of cyanates, which are nitrogen compounds, co-occurring with organic molecules in basaltic samples collected from different environments. These cyanates may be linked to an active microbial nitrogen cycle.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Rita Severino, Mercedes Moreno -Paz, Fernando Puente-Sanchez, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Valeria A. Risso, Jose M. Sanchez-Ruiz, Nathalie Cabrol, Victor Parro
Summary: In this study, mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques were used to search for molecular biomarkers on Mars. One major challenge is detecting and identifying large and complex compounds. The researchers proposed an immunoanalytical method to identify ancient and universally conserved protein/peptide sequences as targets for identifying ancestral biomarkers in nature. They successfully detected positive immunoreactions with antibodies to ancient proteins using fluorescent sandwich microarray immunoassays and confirmed the results through metagenomic sequencing.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jade H. Checlair, Geronimo L. Villanueva, Benjamin P. C. Hayworth, Stephanie L. Olson, Thaddeus D. Komacek, Tyler D. Robinson, Predrag Popovic, Huanzhou Yang, Dorian S. Abbot
Summary: The study proposes a statistical method to determine if exo-Earth candidates are Earth-like by searching for oxygen on these planets. It suggests that missions with larger aperture mirrors are more effective in constraining the fraction of Earth-like planets.
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zuzana Cieslarova, Aaron C. Noell, Peter A. Willis, Maria F. Mora
Summary: Amino acids are significant in the quest for extraterrestrial life, and subcritical water extraction (SCWE) has been demonstrated to release amino acids from samples without altering their distributions or enantiomeric excess.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Hilary Kelly, Michael N. Spilde, Daniel S. Jones, Penelope J. Boston
Summary: Biovermiculations are organic-rich sediment formations with unique patterns found in caves and other subterranean environments. The microbial communities within biovermiculations can alter the host rock, form secondary minerals, and stabilize sediment matrices with biofilms. The study observed alterations on rock surfaces associated with microbial filaments, corrosion features, and the formation of secondary minerals, providing insights into potential biological mechanisms for cave wall alteration.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fei Wang, Jinping He
Summary: Studying the diurnal variability of Vegetation Red Edge (VRE) in Earth and Earth analogs can improve detectability of extraterrestrial light-harvesting vegetation and retrieve planetary information accurately.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
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
Geochemistry & Geophysics
M. L. Wong, A. Prabhu, J. Williams, S. M. Morrison, R. M. Hazen
Summary: Previous studies have found that Earth's atmospheric chemical reaction network has a unique structure distinct from other planetary atmospheres in the Solar System. By investigating the topologies of different planetary atmospheres using network science and graph theory techniques, we show that Earth's network stands out with its nonrandom topology and similarity to biological networks. Furthermore, we discuss the potential development of a network-based biosignature applicable to exoplanets through further investigations using advanced network representations and novel network metrics.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Joti Rouillard, Mark van Zuilen, Celine Pisapia, Juan-Manuel Garcia-Ruiz
Summary: The article presents an alternative quantitative method for assessing the biogenicity of putative microfossils by studying hypotheses involving biology or not to find the biogenicity in microstructures. This approach helps resolve debates over the biogenicity of ancient microfossils and can be used to reveal the existence of cellular life on other planets.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Arthur Omran, Christopher Oze, Brian Jackson, Chris Mehta, Laura M. Barge, Jeffrey Bada, Matthew A. Pasek
Summary: The possibility of life in the venusian clouds has been raised since the 1960s, and recent detection of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere has sparked renewed interest in this hypothesis. However, the detection of phosphine is not a definitive indicator of life, and abiotic processes could also generate phosphine on Venus or other rocky planets.
Review
Biology
Adam J. McKay, Nathan X. Roth
Summary: Studying organic matter in comets is crucial for understanding the formation of volatile material in the early Solar System. Earth-based studies and spacecraft missions, such as the Rosetta mission, have provided unprecedented insights into the nature of organic matter in comets. Future prospects for this research are promising.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Benjamin Fields, Sohom Gupta, McCullen Sandora
Summary: We propose the concept of information gain to quantitatively assess the value of biosignature missions. We demonstrate its utility by applying it to various examples, providing concrete recommendations for optimizing mission design, selection, and target selection. This framework allows us to determine how mission value depends on design parameters, prior knowledge, and input assumptions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yongda Li, David Collins, Konstantinos Grintzalis
Summary: The possibility of microbial life beyond Earth is a significant question in astrobiology, and the development of confirmatory tests is crucial for identifying potential habitats for life. In this study, a novel methodology for detecting microorganisms in Martian soil simulants through spiking and recovery experiments is described. The use of miniaturized techniques enables rapid and sensitive assessment of microbial presence in soil samples. The results suggest that this methodology could be valuable for identifying potential habitats for microbial life on Mars and other extraterrestrial bodies.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS
(2023)