2002 Annual Science Report
Arizona State University Reporting | JUL 2001 – JUN 2002
Executive Summary
Astrobiologists and their multidisciplinarian colleagues are writing
a preliminary outline of the story of life on Earth and in space.
They are studying the processes that led to an environment capable of
supporting life on Earth, the basic building blocks of life, the
origin and evolution of Earth’s living systems, and they are
exploring other places in our Solar System, such as Mars and Europa,
for evidence of life.
Overview of Astrobiology at Arizona State
Astrobiology is the emerging interdisciplinary science that studies the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the cosmos. Arizona State University supports a broadly based program of research and training in astrobiology that addresses the first three of these areas. The following paragraphs provide an overview of the specific research currently being addressed by the Arizona State University (ASU) Astrobiology team, along with selected highlights of research progress during ... Continue reading.
-
Jack Farmer
NAI, ASTEP, ASTID, Exobiology -
TEAM Active Dates:
7/1998 - 10/2003 CAN 1 -
Members:
102 (See All) - Visit Team Page
Project Reports
-
Environmental Evolution of the Archean Earth
We wrote 4 papers on:
- Brines on Mars (In press)
- Caliche as a target for astrobiological prospecting on Mars ( in revision following review)
- Climatic temperature of the Archean Earth (in revision following review)
- Brines on Mars as electrical conductors susceptible to geophysical
detection (in revision following review)
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 7.0 8.0 -
Origin and Early Evolution of Photosynthesis
Work on the origin and early evolution of photosynthesis is carried out by a highly interdisciplinary team of scientists from several different institutions. The overall theme is understanding the origin and early evolution of photosynthesis and its effect on the biosphere. This year four main aspects have been emphasized: (1) whole genome comparative analyses of photosynthetic organisms, (2) the search for phototrophs in non-solar environments around hydrothermal vents, (3) field and laboratory studies of photosynthetic organisms in thermophilic and iron-rich environments and (4) Biochemical analysis of primitive phototrophic organisms. Each of these projects has seen significant progress, as described below.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 -
Impacts and the Origin, Distribution, and Evolution of Life
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 12.0 14.0 -
Module 1A
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 5.0 8.0 11.0 -
Organic Synthesis at High Temperatures
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.0 -
Microbial Fossilization Processes in Extreme Environments
To better understand the preservation of microbial biosignatures in hydrothermal settings, I have traced the fate of epiphytic diatoms entombed in travertine spherulites.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 6.0 7.0 8.0 -
Submicroscopic Studies of Microfossils and Fossilization Processes in Ancient Cherts
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 8.0 -
Nanoscale Minerals as Biomarkers
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0 -
Evolution in Microbe-Based Ecosystems: Desert Springs as Analogues for the Early Development and Stabilization of Ecological Systems
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 14.0 -
Exploring Mars for Past or Present Life
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 8.0 -
Exploring the Living Universe; Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Solar System
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.0 9.0 11.0
Publications
- There are no publications for this team in the 2002 annual report.
2002 Teams
-
Arizona State University
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Harvard University
Marine Biological Laboratory
Michigan State University
NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA Johnson Space Center
Pennsylvania State University
Scripps Research Institute
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Rhode Island
University of Washington
Virtual Planetary Laboratory (JPL/CalTech)