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Project Reports

• Astrobiology Education and Public Outreach — JSC

  The Astrobiology Education and Public Outreach team at JSC is active on three major fronts. Our core group of master teachers and scientists continues to work together on the design and testing of Astrobiology education products. The team has developed a portable public display and a web site to tell the story of Astrobiology and the specific role of biomarkers research. We also present specific Astrobiology topics in individual classrooms, teacher workshops, and national conventions. The JSC research group also supports visiting researchers ranging from high school students to postdoctoral fellows.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 8.0

• Astrobiology at UCLA: An Integrated Multidisciplinary Approach to Research and Education

  RESEARCH at UCLA is now focused on six main themes: (1) extrasolar planetary systems; (2) geobiology and geochemistry of early Earth and Mars; (3) evolution of Earth’s early life; (4) genomic evolution and the tree of life; (5) celestial influences on the terrestrial environment; and (6) exploration for life in the Solar System. Over the past year, some of these themes have grown significantly; the thrust of the last has been seriously compromised by the successive losses of both the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0

• Education and Public Outreach Activities

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 4.0 6.0 7.0 10.0

• Exploring the Living Universe: Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Solar System

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 12.0

• Biological Studies of Hydrothermal Systems

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0

• Biomarkers in Terrestrial Samples

  The importance of terrestrial samples to Astrobiology cannot be overestimated. Only by understanding the evidence for life preserved in the rocks and soil of Earth can we assess indications of possible life elsewhere in the universe. We currently have four main thrusts of this research: Modern Life in Extreme Environments, Ancient Life, Natural contamination of fossiliferous and non-fossiliferous lithologies, and Experiments.
  
  Modern Life in Extreme Environments
  
  We are studying samples from hot springs, caves, mines and endolithic environments to document the presence of microbial life and its physical and chemical biomarkers.
  
  Ancient Life
  We are studying rocks that contain the earliest physical evidence of life on Earth, in order to document the retention of microbial forms and other biosignatures in the geologic record. Furthermore, we are investigating the variety of environments in which the most ancient life is preserved. This will hopefully aid interpretation of where and possibly how life started.
  
  Natural contamination of fossiliferous and non-fossiliferous lithologies
  Fossiliferous rocks can become naturally contaminated through microbes living in cracks in both fossiliferous and non-fossiliferous lithologies, as well as microbes living between grains in harsh environments. We are looking at fossilized microbes in cracks in Early Archaean, carbonaceous, fossiliferous cherts, as well as in serpentinized deep sea ultramafics. Fossilized endolithic microorganisms in Arctic environments are also being investigated. Impact craters comprise another environment under investigation for fossilized endolithic organisms.
  
  Experiments
  We are conducting irradiation and shock experiments on terrestrial rocks to understand the effects of these stresses on samples from other planets. Some of the material being shocked is fossiliferous. Fossiliferous Early Archaean cherts are being experimentally metamorphosed to determine the effects of amphibolite/lower granulite metamorphism on the survival of carbonaceous microfossils. Films formed from prebiotic molecules are being artificially created as a comparison for biogenic films (biofilms) in order to distinguish differences between abiotic and biotic polymer films.
  

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 17.0

• Early Microbial Ecosystems: Modern Analogs

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0 13.0

• Hydrothermal Organic Synthesis

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 11.0 13.0

• Eukaryote Origins and the Evolution of Cellular Complexity – Eukaryotic rRNA Evolution

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 4.0 6.0 7.0

• The Environment of Prebiotic Earth and the Origin of Life: Experimental Approach

  Our group at SUNY-Stony Brook has focussed on two research projects: a) rate of CO hydration and stability of formate and b) reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia catalyzed by minerals.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 12.0

• Biomarkers Database

  The JSC Astrobiology group’s main goal is to develop, characterize, and document a set of reliable biomarkers that can be used to identify present or past forms of microbial life. The research efforts of many groups are being consolidated in a continuously-updated electronic database.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0

• Fractionation of Transition Metal Isotopes

  The primary focus of this research is to determine if fractionations of transition metal isotopes can be used as biomarkers. We are also interested in the possible use of such fractionations to study changes in metal geochemical cycling through time, which could provide insight into past changes in environmental conditions and/or changing use of metals in biochemistry. The biomarker applications are of primary interest to the JPL/Caltech Team. The other applications are also of interest to the Harvard Team, which also supports this research.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 8.0

• Biochemistry of Physhrophilic Organisms

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Molecular Analysis of Microbial Ecosystems in Extreme Environments

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 14.0 16.0 17.0

• Diversity of Eukaryotes in Thermophilic and Mesophilic Environments That Might Resemble Early Earth’s Biosphere

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 6.0 7.0

• Microbe-Mineral Interactions

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 8.0

• Diversity and Physiology of Prokaryotes in Selected Thermophilic and Mesophilic Environments That Might Resemble Early Earth’s Biosphere

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 6.0 7.0

• NO TITLE – Marilyn L. Fogel – JPL

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Paleomicrobiology and the Evolution of Metabolic Pathways in the Archaean Environment.

  The project has two parts. First, ancient microfossils preserved in cherts are being studied with an ion microprobe allowing the analysis of the carbon isotopic composition of individual microfossils. Second, the process of carbon isotopic fractionation is being studied in a diverse set of microorganisms. Collectively, the results will constrain the carbon fixation biochemistry of ancient microorganisms.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Protist Diversity in Extreme Environments

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0

• Coevolution of Life and Planets

  The Kirschvink lab has focused on several aspects of interest to the National Astrobiology Institute during the past 1.5 years, including evaluation and identification of Precambrian biosignatures, testing the Panspermia hypothesis with the Martian Meteorite ALH84001, placing constraints on Life on Europa, assessing effect of the Paleoproterozoic â??Snowball Earth’. Members of the group include Postdoctoral Scholar J.W. Hagadorn, JPL Postdoctoral visitor Eric Gaidos, Graduate Student Benjamin Weiss, and Undergraduate Students Francis Macdonald and Tim Raub.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 14.0 17.0

• Eukaryote Biodiversity and Physiology at Acidic Extremes: Spain’s Tinto River

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.0 4.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

• Organic Molecules as Biosignatures

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 7.0 8.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 1

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Co-Evolution of Planets and Biospheres: Lessons From Earth and Mars

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

• Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metasoans: Field, Geochemical and Paleontological Investigations – Mark E. Patzkowsky (Co-PI)

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere/Causes and Consequences of the Diversification and Extinction of Metazoans – Rosemary C. Capo, Brian W. Stewart

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 6.0 7.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Astrobiology Education and Public Outreach

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0

• “Alien Hunting” on What’s in the News

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 4.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 12.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 2

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0

• Evolution of Atmospheric O2, Climate, and the Terrestrial Biosphere: Approaches From Field-Oriented Geochemical Investigations – Lee R. Kump 3

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 12.0 14.0 15.0