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2000 Annual Science Report

Astrobiology Roadmap Objective 8.0 Reports Reporting  |  JUL 1999 – JUN 2000

Roadmap Objective 8.0—Search for evidence of ancient climates, extinct life and potential habitats for extant life on Mars.

Project Reports

  • Biosignatures in Extraterrestrial Samples

    This project concentrates on studying the martian meteorites in our systematic search for biosignatures in extraterrestrial samples. The research by JSC and Co-Investigator scientists currently includes four major biological / organic investigations, analysis of magnetite crystals, analysis of features morphologically similar to fossilized terrestrial organisms, detection of trace-level organic compounds, and assessment of terrestrial microbial contamination.

    In addition, we are conducting ongoing studies of chemical weathering on Mars and on Earth, and analyzing experimental shock effects to document the possibility of biomarker preservation in meteoritic materials. Finally, we have proposed to broaden the Astrobiology investigation of these unique extraterrestrial samples through a new Inter-Institute Focus Group on Martian Meteorites.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0 16.0
  • 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
  • The Planetary Context of Biological Evolution: Research on Terminal Proterozoic Evolution and the Coevolution of Life and Environments
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.0 5.0 6.0 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
  • 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
  • The Environment of Prebiotic Earth: Theoretical Approach
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 8.0 11.0 12.0 15.0
  • NO TITLE – Mark Allen/ JPL
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0
  • Hydrothermal Organic Synthesis
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 2.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 11.0 13.0
  • Geochemical Weathering and the Energetics to Support Life on Mars.

    The primary objective of this research is to constrain the amount of chemical energy potentially available from reactions between ground or surface water and regolith or crustal rock to support life on Mars. To accomplish this goal, we will integrate broad aspects of terrestrial and martian geochemistry, geochemical computer modeling, metabolic strategies of terrestrial analog organisms, as well as an understanding of geologic processes occurring on Mars. Our approach is to use the standard geochemical software tools EQ3/6 and SUPCRT92. We require particular knowledge of a number of environmental parameters as inputs into the models, including the chemical composition of crustal rocks and groundwater, the volume of material chemically altered, and the composition of the atmosphere in contact with groundwater. The sites to be modeled are still under consideration, will include the “hematite” deposit in Sinus Meridiani, which will be modeled both as an area of low-temperature water/rock interaction as well as an area of hydrothermal alteration.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0
  • 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
  • Studies in Planetary Formation and Evolution
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0 9.0 11.0 12.0
  • Studies of Organic Matter and Water in Meteorites
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 8.0 9.0 11.0
  • Biological Influences on Weathering
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 6.0 8.0 12.0 13.0
  • 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
  • Microbe-Mineral Interactions
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 8.0
  • Fe Isotope Biosignatures
    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.0 5.0 8.0 11.0 13.0
  • 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 รข??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
  • 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