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2010 Annual Science Report

Arizona State University Reporting  |  SEP 2009 – AUG 2010

Executive Summary

Overview

In 2010, the Astrobiology Program at Arizona State University made solid progress on all 19 of the major research tasks described in our CAN5 proposal, exceptional progress on some, and initiated new efforts in several areas. These efforts resulted in ~ 70 publications that appeared in print, were submitted or reached an advanced state of preparation during the reporting period, as well as ~ 50 professional presentations. These included several publications in high-profile journals. Collectively, this initial research advanced our goal of integrating life science, geoscience, planetary science and astrophysics to understand how the distribution of chemical elements shapes the distribution of life in space and time, and to guide the search for life beyond Earth. These research advances are summarized below.

In addition to this research, a vibrant suite of EPO activities was undertaken, and some EPO flagship efforts were initiated. These activities reached a ... Continue reading.

Field Sites
38 Institutions
24 Project Reports
112 Publications
6 Field Sites
Roadmap
Objectives

Project Reports

  • Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 4: Evaluate the Habitability of Ancient Aqueous Solutions on Mars

    On Earth, hydrothermal systems teem with life and such systems could have been widespread in the solar system. The Mars habitability task has been focusing on understanding how to identify the fingerprints of hydrothermal processes in the ancient rock record, while assessing the potential of hydrothermal deposits to preserve signatures of life. The recent discovery of silica-rich hydrothermal deposits by the Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, has provided renewed interest in hydrothermal deposits as targets for future in situ robotic missions and sample returns for Astrobiology.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.1
  • Habitability of Water Rich Environments – Task 6 – Waterworld Habitability

    We explored effects of initial compositions, 26Al content and major collisions on the composition and abundance of C-H-O-N volatiles during the formation of solid extrasolar planets.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1
  • Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 1: Improve and Test Codes to Model Water-Rock Interactions

    Two new models have been developed in order to calculate 1) phase transitions during concentrating/diluting and cooling/heating in salt-brine-ice systems (from -60°C to 250°C) and 2) the chemical composition of hydrothermal systems. The case of water-granite interaction vs. time has been simulated to test a model of aqueous alteration that combines thermodynamics and kinetics.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.1 2.2
  • Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 2: Model the Dynamics of Icy Mantles

    Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, is one of the few places in our solar system hypothesized
    to be habitable. Beneath a frozen, icy surface lies a liquid water ocean that could contain the chemical constituents required by life. Future missions to Europa will study its surface in detail in an effort to extrapolate the conditions below. So it is important to understand how mass can be transported from the deep ocean, through the ice, and to the surface of the moon. To understand this process, we are performing numerical fluid-dynamical calculations of 2-phase, thermochemical convection to investigate how chemistry from the deep ocean is transported to Europa’s surface. Furthermore, we are investigating how this material transport is expected to deform Europa’s surface, such that future missions will be able to infer deep, convective processes of the moon’s interior from surface observations.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 1a: Experimental Studies – Cellular Stoichiometry Under Nutrient Limitation in Chemostats

    In this project we are raising several species of “extremophile” microbes at different growth rates under different kinds of element limitation (N, P, and Fe) in order to determine how their “elemental recipes” (in terms of C, N, P, Fe, and other metals) change with environmental conditions. These data will help us understand similar data to be obtained from microbes in natural ecosystems.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2 7.1
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 1: High-Precision Isotopic Studies of Meteorites

    The evolution of habitable planets may be affected by the injection of short-lived radionuclides, produced by supernova explosions, early in solar system history. In this task we are finding evidence of such injection in some of the earliest Solar System materials (calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions) and constraining the timing of early Solar System events.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life – Task 1b – Experimental Studies – Microbial Production of Exopolymeric Subtances (EPS)

    One way that microscopic plankton affect the Earth system is by producing carbon compounds that can sink to the bottom of the ocean, thus burying C for extended periods. The production of “exopolymeric substances” (EPS), sticky molecules often made from sugars, is such a mechanism. This project seeks to determine some of the basic parameters that affect the production of EPS by marine phytoplankton.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1 6.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 3a: Ancient Records – Geologic

    We are analyzing, at high resolution, Mid-Proterozoic drill core and outcrop samples in an effort to fingerprint the evolving redox state of the atmosphere and ocean at critical intervals in Earth history. This refined view of biospheric oxygenation provides the key backdrop for measuring and inferring abundances of diverse bioessential elements. Within this context we can better understand the distribution and evolution of early eukaryotic organisms at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1 4.2
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 3b: Ancient Records – Genomic

    The goal of Task 3b is to advance understanding of elemental cycling in ancient ecosystems. Team members are developing experimental and computational approaches aimed at genomic analysis of modern ecosystems, and extending these approaches in novel ways to infer the function and composition of ancient communities.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.1 5.2 5.3
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 4: Biogeochemical Impacts on Planetary Atmospheres

    Oxygenation of Earth’s early atmosphere must have involved an efficient mode of carbon burial. In the modern ocean, carbon export of primary production is dominated by fecal pellets and aggregates produced by the animal grazer community. But during most of Earth history the oceans were dominated by unicellular, bacteria-like organisms (prokaryotes) causing a substantially altered biogeochemistry. The NASA Ocean Biogechemical Model (NOBM) is applied using cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) as the only photosynthetic group in the oceans. The analyses showed that the early Earth ocean had 19% less primary production and 35% more nitrate due to slower growth by the cyanobacteria, and reduced nutrient uptake efficiency relative to modern phytoplankton Additionally there was 8% more total carbon in the oceans as a result of higher atmospheric pCO2. We plan to optimize this early Proterozoic ocean model in combination with a 1 D model to account for changes in aggregate formation and sinking speed in response to varying nutrients.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 4.1 4.2 5.2 6.1 7.2
  • Stoichiometry of Life – Task 1f – Concept Studies – Nickel-Molybdenum Co-Limitation and Evolution of Mo-Nitrogenase

    The element molybdenum (Mo) is critical for key processes in the cycling of nitrogen (N); for example, it is essential for the enzyme nitrogenase which bacteria use to convert gaseous N to “fixed” N that can be used in biological processes. However, this process costs a lot of energy. In some microbes, this energy can be captured and used via enzymes that involve both Mo and nickel (Ni). This project investigates the role of these Ni-Fe enzymes in making nitrogenase-driven processes more energetically efficient and how these enzymes may have evolved in the deep past when Ni concentrations were lower.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1 5.1 5.2 6.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life – Task 1d – Experimental Studies – the Role of Molybdenum in the Nitrogen Cycle, Past and Present

    The element molybdenum (Mo) is critical for key processes in the cycling of nitrogen (N); for example, it is essential for the enzyme nitrogenase which bacteria use to convert gaseous N to “fixed” N that can be used in biological processes. This project seeks to understand how Mo might limit N processing in modern ecosystems (lakes and oceans) and infer its potential role in the past.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1 5.1 6.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life – Task 1c – Laboratory Studies – the Role of Arsenic in Microbial Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution

    It has previously been assumed that arsenic (or its more common form, arsenate) acts only as a poison for living things. However, As is very close to the nutrient element phosphorus (P; phosphate) in the Periodic Table suggesting that possibility that under some conditions organisms might use arsenate instead of phosphate in key molecules. This study examines microbes isolated from a high arsenate, low phosphate environment (Mono Lake, CA) to see whether or not they can grow on arsenate in the absence of phosphate and if As is incorporated into major molecules.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.2 5.1 5.3 6.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 2b: Field Studies – Cuatro Cienegas

    Cuatro Cienegas is a unique biological preserve in which there is striking microbial diversity, potentially related to extreme scarcity of phosphorus. We aim to understand this relationship via field sampling of biological and chemical characteristics and a series of enclosure and whole-pond fertilization experiments.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 6: Determine Which Elemental or Isotopic Ratios Correlate With Key Elements

    Many of the elements important to life or to the development of potentially habitable solar systems are difficult or impossible to observe directly. We are working to understand where these elements are produced in stars and whether they correlate with elements that are more easily observed. This effort requires modeling of the dynamics and nuclear burning in supernova explosions to determine what elements are produced together and, equally important, how the ejected material is incorporated into the gas that forms stars and planets. We are also observing a region of star formation to detect the signature of enrichment of newly formed sunlike stars by the explosion of their nearby, more massive cousins.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 4: Model the Injection of Supernova Material Into Protoplanetary Disks

    The goal of this task is to determine how much supernova material can make its way into a forming solar system, after the star has formed and is surrounded by a protoplanetary disk. This supernova material may contain radioactive isotopes like 26Al, which is the primary mechanism by which asteroids melted and which may control delivery of water and other elements to terrestrial planets. This supernova material may also change the abundance ratios of bioessential elements.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 2: Model the Chemical and Dynamical Evolution of Massive Stars

    Massive stars are the primary source for the elements heavier than hydrogen and helium on the periodic table. We are simulating the evolution of these stars and their eventual deaths in supernova explosions with state of the art physics in order to generate the most accurate estimates possible of the yields of chemical elements from both individual stars and stellar populations. We are also observing the variations of elemental abundances in nearby planet host candidates in order to determine the range of variation in bioessential elements and the effects of non-sunlike compositions on the evolution of the host stars.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 3: Model the Injection of Supernova Material Into Star-Forming Molecular Clouds

    The goal of this task is to determine how much supernova material can make its way into a forming solar system during its initial stages, when the gas that will form the star and the planets are collapsing from a molecular cloud. This supernova material may contain radioactive isotopes like 26Al, which is the primary mechanism by which asteroids melted and which may control delivery of water and other elements to terrestrial planets. This supernova material may also change the abundance ratios of bioessential elements.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 7: Update Catalog of Elemental Ratios in Nearby Stars

    We are creating the first 3D maps of the elements for stars within 1000 light-years of the Sun, building upon the Habitable Star Catalog produced by Maggie Turnbull and Jill Tarter in 2003. We currently have abundance levels of bioessential elements for about 800 of the 17,000 stars listed in the Habitable Star Catalog. This project employs 2 graduate students (resulting in 1 PhD and 1 masters degree) and 1 undergraduate student. When this project is completed, our publicly available 3D maps will enable discovery of directions, or regions, in space where stars have abundance patterns more favorable to producing habitable worlds.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 7.2
  • Astrophysical Controls on the Elements of Life, Task 5: Model the Variability of Elemental Ratios Within Clusters

    This involves a comprehensive chemodynamic study of the self-enrichment of star forming regions and its astrobiological implications. Our approach will start from the point of star formation and diligently model the subsequent production, dissemination, and accretion of 92 chemical elements, with a special focus on bioessential elements and short-lived radionucides. Our goal is to capture the full evolution over which a molecular cloud, the primary units of star-forming gas, is converted into an open cluster, the primary units of formed stars — determining the probability distribution of all elements that are important in the formation of terrestrial planets and life.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 3.1
  • Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 3: Evaluate the Habitability of Europa’s Subsurface Ocean

    We completed several reviews that summarize current knowledge about the geological and chemical evolution of Europa’s icy shell and its putative ocean.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2
  • Habitability of Water-Rich Environments, Task 5: Evaluate the Habitability of Small Icy Satellites and Minor Planets

    A better understanding of the physical and chemical properties of putative aquatic systems on icy satellites is needed to assess their potential for life. We developed new models to assess the origins of carbon and nitrogen species on Titan, the composition and salinity of an ocean on Enceladus, the chemical energy available for metabolism on Enceladus, and the formation of crystalline ice on the surfaces of icy moon.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.2
  • Stoichiometry of Life – Task 1e- Experimental Studies – Diatom Growth on Iron Nanoparticles

    In some environments (such as ocean regions fed by icebergs), the critical element iron (Fe) is supplied in the form of very small (“nano”) particles that are suspended rather than dissolved in water. However, it’s not known if this nanoparticle Fe is available to microscopic phytoplankton. This project involves experiments testing whether diatoms (a key oceanic phytoplankton group) can access nanoparticle Fe.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.1
  • Stoichiometry of Life, Task 2a: Field Studies – Yellowstone National Park

    Field work and subsequent laboratory analysis is an integral part of following the elements. One of our field areas is the hot spring ecosystems of Yellowstone, which are dominated by microbes, and where reactions between water and rock generate diverse chemical compositions.
    These natural laboratories provide numerous opportunities to test our ideas about how microbes respond to different geochemical supplies of elements. Summer field work and lab work the rest of the year includes characterizing the natural systems, and controlled experiments on the effects of changing nutrient and metal concentrations (done so as to not impact the natural features!).

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2 7.2

Education & Public Outreach

Publications

  • Alcaraz, L., Moreno-Hagelsieb, G., Eguiarte, L. E., Souza, V., Herrera-Estrella, L., & Olmedo, G. (2010). Understanding the evolutionary relationships and major traits of Bacillus through comparative genomics. BMC Genomics, 11(1), 332. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-11-332

  • Brennecka, G. A., Weyer, S., Wadhwa, M., Janney, P. E., Zipfel, J., & Anbar, A. D. (2009). 238U/235U Variations in Meteorites: Extant 247Cm and Implications for Pb-Pb Dating. Science, 327(5964), 449–451. doi:10.1126/science.1180871

  • Cerritos, R., Eguiarte, L. E., Avitia, M., Siefert, J., Travisano, M., Rodríguez-Verdugo, A., & Souza, V. (2010). Diversity of culturable thermo-resistant aquatic bacteria along an environmental gradient in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 99(2), 303–318. doi:10.1007/s10482-010-9490-9

  • Dahl, T. W., Anbar, A. D., Gordon, G. W., Rosing, M. T., Frei, R., & Canfield, D. E. (2010). The behavior of molybdenum and its isotopes across the chemocline and in the sediments of sulfidic Lake Cadagno, Switzerland. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(1), 144–163. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.09.018

  • Dahl, T. W., Hammarlund, E. U., Anbar, A. D., Bond, D. P. G., Gill, B. C., Gordon, G. W., … Canfield, D. E. (2010). Devonian rise in atmospheric oxygen correlated to the radiations of terrestrial plants and large predatory fish. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(42), 17911–17915. doi:10.1073/pnas.1011287107

  • Duan, Y., Anbar, A. D., Arnold, G. L., Lyons, T. W., Gordon, G. W., & Kendall, B. (2010). Molybdenum isotope evidence for mild environmental oxygenation before the Great Oxidation Event. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(23), 6655–6668. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.08.035

  • Duan, Y., Severmann, S., Anbar, A. D., Lyons, T. W., Gordon, G. W., & Sageman, B. B. (2010). Isotopic evidence for Fe cycling and repartitioning in ancient oxygen-deficient settings: Examples from black shales of the mid-to-late Devonian Appalachian basin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 290(3-4), 244–253. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.11.052

  • Dupont, C. L., Butcher, A., Valas, R. E., Bourne, P. E., & Caetano-Anolles, G. (2010). History of biological metal utilization inferred through phylogenomic analysis of protein structures. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(23), 10567–10572. doi:10.1073/pnas.0912491107

  • Ellinger, C. I., Young, P. A., & Desch, S. J. (2010). COLLATERAL EFFECTS ON SOLAR NEBULA OXYGEN ISOTOPES DUE TO INJECTION OF 26 Al BY A NEARBY SUPERNOVA. The Astrophysical Journal, 725(2), 1495–1506. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/725/2/1495

  • Eriksen, K. A., Arnett, D., McCarthy, D. W., & Young, P. (2009). THE REDDENING TOWARD CASSIOPEIA A’s SUPERNOVA: CONSTRAINING THE 56 Ni YIELD. The Astrophysical Journal, 697(1), 29–36. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/697/1/29

  • Foster, P. L. (2011). Comment on “A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus”. Science, 332(6034), i–1149. doi:10.1126/science.1201551

  • Gill, B. C., Lyons, T. W., Young, S. A., Kump, L. R., Knoll, A. H., & Saltzman, M. R. (2011). Geochemical evidence for widespread euxinia in the Later Cambrian ocean. Nature, 469(7328), 80–83. doi:10.1038/nature09700

  • Glass, J. B., Axler, R. P., Chandra, S., & Goldman, C. R. (2012). Molybdenum limitation of microbial nitrogen assimilation in aquatic ecosystems and pure cultures. Frontiers in Microbiology, 3. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2012.00331

  • Glein, C. R., & Shock, E. L. (2010). Sodium chloride as a geophysical probe of a subsurface ocean on Enceladus. Geophysical Research Letters, 37(9), n/a–n/a. doi:10.1029/2010gl042446

  • Glein, C. R., Desch, S. J., & Shock, E. L. (2009). The absence of endogenic methane on Titan and its implications for the origin of atmospheric nitrogen. Icarus, 204(2), 637–644. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.06.020

  • Godfrey, L. V., & Glass, J. B. (2011). The Geochemical Record of the Ancient Nitrogen Cycle, Nitrogen Isotopes, and Metal Cofactors. Methods in Enzymology, None, 483–506. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-381294-0.00022-5

  • Johnston, D. T., Wolfe-Simon, F., Pearson, A., & Knoll, A. H. (2009). Anoxygenic photosynthesis modulated Proterozoic oxygen and sustained Earth’s middle age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(40), 16925–16929. doi:10.1073/pnas.0909248106

  • Kendall, B., Reinhard, C. T., Lyons, T. W., Kaufman, A. J., Poulton, S. W., & Anbar, A. D. (2010). Pervasive oxygenation along late Archaean ocean margins. Nature Geosci, 3(9), 647–652. doi:10.1038/ngeo942

  • Li, C., Love, G. D., Lyons, T. W., Fike, D. A., Sessions, A. L., & Chu, X. (2010). A Stratified Redox Model for the Ediacaran Ocean. Science, 328(5974), 80–83. doi:10.1126/science.1182369

  • Lyons, T. W., & Gill, B. C. (2010). Ancient Sulfur Cycling and Oxygenation of the Early Biosphere. Elements, 6(2), 93–99. doi:10.2113/gselements.6.2.93

  • Magkotsios, G., Timmes, F. X., Hungerford, A. L., Fryer, C. L., Young, P. A., & Wiescher, M. (2010). TRENDS IN 44 Ti AND 56 Ni FROM CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 191(1), 66–95. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/191/1/66

  • Mironenko, M. V., & Polyakov, V. B. (2009). On algorithm for the calculation of the equilibrium composition of water-salt systems on the basis of the Pitzer model. Geochemistry International, 47(10), 1036–1040. doi:10.1134/s0016702909100073

  • Montoya-Pino, C., Weyer, S., Anbar, A. D., Pross, J., Oschmann, W., Van De Schootbrugge, B., & Arz, H. W. (2010). Global enhancement of ocean anoxia during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2: A quantitative approach using U isotopes. Geology, 38(4), 315–318. doi:10.1130/g30652.1

  • Morris, M. A., & Desch, S. J. (2009). Phyllosilicate Emission from Protoplanetary Disks: Is the Indirect Detection of Extrasolar Water Possible?. Astrobiology, 9(10), 965–978. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0316

  • Oremland, R. S., Saltikov, C. W., Wolfe-Simon, F., & Stolz, J. F. (2009). Arsenic in the Evolution of Earth and Extraterrestrial Ecosystems. Geomicrobiology Journal, 26(7), 522–536. doi:10.1080/01490450903102525

  • Ouellette, N., Desch, S. J., & Hester, J. J. (2010). INJECTION OF SUPERNOVA DUST IN NEARBY PROTOPLANETARY DISKS. The Astrophysical Journal, 711(2), 597–612. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/711/2/597

  • Ouellette, N., Desch, S. J., Bizzarro, M., Boss, A. P., Ciesla, F., & Meyer, B. (2009). Injection mechanisms of short-lived radionuclides and their homogenization. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73(17), 4946–4962. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2008.10.044

  • Pan, L., & Scannapieco, E. (2010). MIXING IN SUPERSONIC TURBULENCE. The Astrophysical Journal, 721(2), 1765–1782. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/721/2/1765

  • Pan, L., & Scannapieco, E. (2011). Passive scalar structures in supersonic turbulence. Phys. Rev. E, 83(4), None. doi:10.1103/physreve.83.045302

  • Porter, S. B., Desch, S. J., & Cook, J. C. (2010). Micrometeorite impact annealing of ice in the outer Solar System. Icarus, 208(1), 492–498. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.01.031

  • Raiswell, R., Reinhard, C. T., Derkowski, A., Owens, J., Bottrell, S. H., Anbar, A. D., & Lyons, T. W. (2011). Formation of syngenetic and early diagenetic iron minerals in the late Archean Mt. McRae Shale, Hamersley Basin, Australia: New insights on the patterns, controls and paleoenvironmental implications of authigenic mineral formation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75(4), 1072–1087. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.11.013

  • Rusch, D. B., Martiny, A. C., Dupont, C. L., Halpern, A. L., & Venter, J. C. (2010). Characterization of Prochlorococcus clades from iron-depleted oceanic regions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(37), 16184–16189. doi:10.1073/pnas.1009513107

  • Scott, C. T., Bekker, A., Reinhard, C. T., Schnetger, B., Krapez, B., Rumble, D., & Lyons, T. W. (2011). Late Archean euxinic conditions before the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Geology, 39(2), 119–122. doi:10.1130/g31571.1

  • Sohl, F., Choukroun, M., Kargel, J., Kimura, J., Pappalardo, R., Vance, S., & Zolotov, M. (2010). Subsurface Water Oceans on Icy Satellites: Chemical Composition and Exchange Processes. Space Sci Rev, 153(1-4), 485–510. doi:10.1007/s11214-010-9646-y

  • Toribio, J., Escalante, A. E., Caballero-Mellado, J., González-González, A., Zavala, S., Souza, V., & Soberón-Chávez, G. (2011). Characterization of a novel biosurfactant producing Pseudomonas koreensis lineage that is endemic to Cuatro Ciénegas Basin. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 34(7), 531–535. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2011.01.007

  • Warner, N. H., & Farmer, J. D. (2010). Subglacial Hydrothermal Alteration Minerals in Jökulhlaup Deposits of Southern Iceland, with Implications for Detecting Past or Present Habitable Environments on Mars. Astrobiology, 10(5), 523–547. doi:10.1089/ast.2009.0425

  • Yooseph, S., Nealson, K. H., Rusch, D. B., McCrow, J. P., Dupont, C. L., Kim, M., … Craig Venter, J. (2010). Genomic and functional adaptation in surface ocean planktonic prokaryotes. Nature, 468(7320), 60–66. doi:10.1038/nature09530

  • Zolotov, M. Y. (2009). On the composition and differentiation of Ceres. Icarus, 204(1), 183–193. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.06.011

  • Athanassiadou, T., Desch, S., Fields, B., Ouellette, N. & Timmes, F.X.  (2010).  Supernova dust injection into our solar system: then and now.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science Abstracts, 73: 5356.
  • Athanassiadou, T., Desch, S., Fields, B., Ouellette, N. & Timmes, F.X.  (2010).  Supernova dust injection into the solar system: then and now.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5581.
  • Athanassiadou, T., Desch, S., Fields, B., Ouellette, N. & Timmes, F.X.  (2010).  Supernova dust injection into the solar system: then and now.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Bennett, M.E., Hirschi, R., Pignatari, M., Diehl, S., Fryer, C.L., Herwig, F., Hungerford, A.L., Magkotsios, G., Rockefeller, G., Timmes, F.X., Wiescher, M. & Young, P.A.  (2010).  The effect of 12 C + 12 C rate uncertainties on s-process yields.  Journal of Physics Conference Series, 202a: 2023.
  • Bonilla-Rosso, G., Peimbert, M., Olmedo, G., Alcaraz, L.D., Eguiarte, L.E. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Life in oligotrophic desert environments: contrasting taxonomic and functional diversity of two microbial mats with metagenomics.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Bouvier, A., Wadhwa, M., Bullock, E. & MacPherson, G.  (2010).  Pb-Pb dating of a CAI from the reduced CV3 chondrite Vigarano.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 45: Abstract.
  • Breitbart, M., Hollander, D., Nitti, A., Van Mooy, B., Siefert, J. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Modern freshwater microbialites of Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. I: Metagenomic and stable isotopic analyses to assess microbial community structure and function.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Brennecka, G.A., Herrmann, A.D., Saltzman, M.R. & Anbar, A.D.  (2009).  Using 238U/235U ratios in carbonates as a paleoredox indicator: variations across the Permian-Triassic boundary.  Geological Society of America.  Portland, OR.
  • Brennecka, G.A., Wadhwa, M., Janney, P.E. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Towards reconciling early Solar System chronometers: The 2388U/235U ratios of shondrites and D’Orbigny pyroxenes.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.  The Woodlands, TX.
  • Bunte, M.K., McNamara, A.K. & Greeley, R.  (2010).  Investigating ice shell convection with a lower boundary defined by changes in phase and composition: implications for Europa, #2523.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.  The Woodlands, TX.
  • Corman, J.R., Souza, V. & Elser, J.J.  (2010).  Interactions of biogeochemical cycles in oncoid microbialites from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Desch, S., Morris, M.A. & Connolly, H.C.  (2010).  A critical examination of the X wind model for the formation of chondrules and CAIs.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1533: 2200.
  • Desch, S.J. & Anbar, A.  (2010).  Water Worlds: how common are they? Was Earth one? How habitable are they?  NAI “Revisiting the habitable zone”.  University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
  • Doggett, T., Greeley, R., Figueredo, P. & Tanaka, K.  (2009).  Geologic stratigraphy and evolution of Europa’s surface, in Europa.  University of Arizona Press.
  • Ellinger, C.I. & Young, P.A.  (2010).  Delivery mechanism of supernova produced 26 AI, 60 Fe, and oxygen to the forming solar system.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5441.
  • Ellinger, C.I. & Young, P.A.  (2010).  Delivery mechanism of supernova produced 26 AI, 60 Fe, and oxygen to the forming solar system.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 6453.
  • Ellinger, C.I. & Young, P.A.  (2010).  Delivery mechanism of supernova produced 26 AI, 60 Fe, and oxygen to the forming solar system.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Ellinger, C.I.  (2010).  Delivery of supernova material to the ISM through ejecta knots.  Nuclei in the Cosmos XI Conference.  Heidelberg, Germany.
  • Ellinger, C.I., Young, P.A. & Desch, S.  (2009).  Solar system shifts in oxygen isotopes associated with supernova injection of aluminum-26.  72nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society.  Nancy, France.
  • Ellinger, C.I., Young, P.A. & Desch, S.  (2009).  Solar system shifts in oxygen isotopes associated with supernova injection of aluminum-26.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 72: 5385.
  • Ellinger, C.I., Young, P.A. & Desch, S.  (2010).  Isotopic effects of SN AI-26 injected into the forming solar system and observable proxies for AI-26 in supernova remnants.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5453.
  • Glass, J.B. & McGlynn, S.E.  (2010).  How do life and global geochemical cycles mutually affect each other?  Astrobiology Primer, 2.0(4.2.3): In preparation.
  • Glass, J.B., Boyd, E.S., Romaniello, S. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Evolutionary metallomics: A nickel for nitrogenase.  Nature Geoscience.
  • Glass, J.B., Chandra, S., Elser, J.J. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Molybdenum limitation of nitrate assimilation in Castle Lake, California.  ASLO-NABS Joint Meeting.  Santa Fe, NM.
  • Glass, J.B., Chappaz, A., Eustis, B., Heyvaert, A.C., Waetjen, D. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Identifying major sources of molybdenum to Castle Lake, California: anthropogenic vs. natural inputs.  Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta.
  • Glass, J.B., Hamilton, G.A., Hartnett, H.E., Mestek, R.L., Morgan, J.L.L., Noonan, K.M., Shipp, J.A., Raiswell, R. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Growth of an Artic diatom with nanoparticulate iron: implication for the supply of bioavailable iron from icebergs.  Marine Chemistry.
  • Glass, J.B., Wolfe-Simon, F., Poret-Peterson, A.T. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Regulation of Mop, a molybdenum storage protein, in the cyanobacterium Nostoc PCC 7120.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
  • Glass, J.B., Wolfe-Simon, F., Poret-Peterson, A.T., Hughes, E.D. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Post-transcriptional regulation of Mop expression by molybdenum.  7th International BioMetals Symposium.
  • Glass, J.B., Wolfe-Simon, F., Poret-Peterson, A.T., Hughes, E.D. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Regulation of mop gene expression by Mo in heterocystous cyanobacteria: Signatures of Mo-limited photosynthesis in the ocean before 800 Ma?  7th Annual Southern California Geobiology Symposium.  California Institute of Technology.
  • Glass, J.B., Wolfe-Simon, F., Poret-Peterson, A.T., Hughes, E.D. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Signatures of low-Mo ancient ocean may be preserved in cyanobacterial genomes.  AbSciCon.  League City, Texas.
  • Glass, J.B., Wolfe-Simon, F., Poret-Peterson, A.T., Hughes, E.D. & Anbar, A.D.  (2010).  Transcriptional and translational controls on molybdenum regulation of mop expression.  Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry Gordon Research Conference.
  • Glein, C.R. & Shock, E.L.  (2010).  Sodium chloride as a clue to Enceladus’ ocean mystery.  European Planetary Science Congress, 5th.
  • Glein, C.R., Desch, S.J. & Shock, E.L.  (2009).  Titan’s methane as a primordial chemical species.  American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences.  Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
  • Greeley, R. & Pappalardo, R.  (2009).  Future exploration of Europa, in Europa.  University of Arizona Press.
  • Havig, J.R. & Shock, E.L.  (2009).  Using hydrothermal biofilm geochemical signatures to generate predictions of elemental behavior with implication for gene hunting, biogeochemical rate measurements, and novel biosignatures.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Hollander, D., Breitbart, M., Nitti, A., Van Mooy, B., Siefert, J. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Modern freshwater microbialites, Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. II. Detailed spatial analysis of geochemical signals linked to microbial activity and carbonate precipitation.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Jahnke, L.L., Parenteau, M.N. & Farmer, J.D.  (2009).  Microbial community biosignatures in silica-depositing hot springs: Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park.
  • Kelly, A.E., Love, G.D., Lyons, T.W., Anbar, A.D., Summons, R.E. & Bowden, S.A.  (2010).  A cautionary tale from the 1.64 Ga Barney Creek formation.  In preparation.
  • Kendall, B., Reinhard, C.T., Lyons, T.W., Kaufman, A.J. & Anbar, A.D.  (2009).  Late Archean surface ocean oxygenation.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Kendall, B., Reinhard, C.T., Lyons, T.W., Kaufman, A.J. & Anbar, A.D.  (2009).  Surface ocean oxygenation preceded the Great Oxidation Event.  Geological Society of America.  Portland, OR.
  • Lyons, T.W., Reinhard, C.T., Love, G.D. & Xiao, S.  (2010).  Proterozoic Geobiology.  In: Canfield, D.E., Knoll, A.H. & Konhauser, K. (Eds.).  Fundamentals of Geobiology.  Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Meyer-Dombard, D.R., Burton, M., Vennelakanti, S., Havig, J.R. & Shock, E.L.  (2009).  Carbon and nitrogen cycling in thermally heated sediments.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Mironenko, M. & Diamond, L.  (2010).  Thermodynamic calculation of solute concentrations in fluid inclusions based on bulk element ratios and microthermometric data.  Geophysical Research Abstracts, 12(Abstract EGU2010-9026-1).
  • Mironenko, M., Zolotov, M.Y., Marshakov, A.I., Yurasova, T.A. & Rybkina, A.A.  (2010).  Dissolution kinetics of kamacite: electrochemical study under anoxic aqueous conditions.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.  The Woodlands, TX.
  • Nunez, J.I., Farmer, J.D., Sellar, R.G. & Allen, C.C.  (2009).  A multispectral micro-imager for lunar field geology.  NASA Lunar Science Institute, Lunar Science Forum.  Ames Research Center, CA.
  • Nunez, J.I., Farmer, J.D., Sellar, R.G. & Allen, C.C.  (2009).  Analysis of Apollo samples with the Multispecral Microscopic Imager (MMI).  Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Meeting.
  • Nunez, J.I., Farmer, J.D., Sellar, R.G. & Allen, C.C.  (2009).  Exploring the Moon at the micorscale: analysis of Apollo samples with the Multispectral Micorscopic Imager.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Nunez, J.I., Farmer, J.D., Sellar, R.G., Sarture, C. & Garnder, P.B.  (2009).  Multispectral Microscopic Imager (MMI): combining microtexture and mineralogy in the robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars.  Geological Society of America.
  • Ouellette, N. & Desch, S.  (2010).  Injection of clumpy supernova ejecta into protoplanetary disks.  Disks, Meteorites, Planetesimals Workshop.
  • Pagano, M., Young, P.A., Timmes, F.X. & Bond, J.C.  (2010).  The composition of dwarfs in the solar neighborhood.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5157.
  • Pan, L., Desch, S., Scannapieco, E. & Timmes, F.X.  (2010).  Mixing of supernova ejecta into molecular clouds.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5580.
  • Pan, L., Scannapieco, E. & Timmes, F.X.  (2010).  Mixing of supernova ejecta into molecular clouds.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Porter, S.B., Desch, S.J. & Cook, J.C.  (2009).  Micrometeorite annealing of solar system icy object.  American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences.  Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
  • Reinhard, C.T., Raiswell, R., Scott, C., Anbar, A.D. & Lyons, T.W.  (2009).  Oxidative weathering and euxinia in the Late Archean.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Sellar, R.G., Farmer, J.D., Nunez, J.I., Garnder, P.B. & Sarture, C.  (2009).  Design of illuminators and extension of spectral range for in-situ microscioic imagers.  Workshop on the Microstructure of the Martian Surface.  University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Souza, V., Breitbart, M., Hollander, D., Elser, J.J., Meadows, V. & Siefert, J.  (2010).  Cuatro Cienegas, A desert oasis with active stromatolites: an astrobiological project.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Souza, V., Eguiarte, L.E., Garcia-Oliva, F., Olmedo, G., Travisano, M., Elser, J.J. & Siefert, J.  (2010).  Cuatro Cienegas: a living ancient world dominated by microbialites.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Spivak-Birndorf, L., Wadhwa, M. & Janney, P.E.  (2010).  60Fe-60Ni isotope systematics of buld ureilites.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 45: Abstract.
  • Spivak-Birndorf, L.J. & Zolotov, M.Y.  (2010).  Algorithm to evaluate composition of condensed volatiles from a star composition.  Meteoritical Society.  New York, NY.
  • Spivak-Birndorf, L.J. & Zolotov, M.Y.  (2010).  Elemental composition of comets: a mass balance model.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 45(Suppl. A194).
  • Tr’Ehnl, N., Timmes, F.X., Turnbull, M., Young, P.A. & Schmidt, S.  (2010).  Constructing an updated catalog of nearby habitable stellar systems with elemental ratios.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5399.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F.  (2010).  Geomicrobiology and alternative life on Earth. The chemistry of early life.  International Geobiology Summer Course.  Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F.  (2010).  Microbes and the four basic strategies for life on Earth: what we can learn from what we know (and how to look for what we don’t know).  2nd Iberoamerican School of Astrobiology.  Montevideo, UY.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F.  (2010).  They eat what!? Biogeochemical cycles and life on Earth.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F., Blum, J.S., Kulp, T.R., Gordon, G.W., Hoeft, S.E., Webb, S.M., Davies, P.C.W., Anbar, A.D. & Oremland, R.S.  (2010).  As as a substitute for P: Evidence of a shadow biosphere from Mono Lake, CA?  Gordon Reseach Conference: Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry.  Newport, RI.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F., Hoeft, S.E. & Oremland, R.S.  (2010).  Faculative anoxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria driven by arsenite.  ACS National Meeting.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F., Hoeft, S.E. & Oremland, R.S.  (2010).  Facultative anoxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria driven by arsenite.  Gordon Research Conference: Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry.  Newport, RI.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F., Hoeft, S.E., Baesman, S.M. & Oremland, R.S.  (2010).  Facultative anoxygenic photosynthesis in cyanobacteria driven by arsenite and sulfide with evidence for the support of nitrogen fixation.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
  • Wolfe-Simon, F., Oremland, R.S. & Webb, S.M.  (2010).  Molecular studies of As-incorporating DNA, RNA and protein using synchrotron radiation.  Nature Cell Biology.
  • Young, P.A., Timmes, F.X. & Tr’Ehnl, N.  (2010).  The turbulent origin of the elements: dynamical/chemical evolution and explosions of massive stars and implications for Astrobiology.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Contributions, 1538: 5395.
  • Zolotov, M.  (2009).  Dry sources of plume emissions on Enceladus.  American Geophysical Union.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Zolotov, M.Y.  (2010).  Oceanic chemistry evolution on icy moons.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Zolovov, M. & Kargel, J.  (2009).  On the compoisition of Europa’s icy shell, ocean and underlying rocks.  University of Arizona Press.

2010 Teams