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2009 Annual Science Report

NASA Ames Research Center Reporting  |  JUL 2008 – AUG 2009

Executive Summary

This report summarizes the efforts of the current Ames Team during the first nine months of the CAN-5 performance period and the final efforts of the previous Ames Team under CAN-3. The Ames CAN-3 Team addressed the development of habitable planetary environments, the origins of biological functions, biosignatures created by microbial ecosystems fueled by light or by chemical energy, and the survival of life in space and in changing environments on Earth.

The current Ames Team addresses the cosmochemical, planet-forming, geochemical, and biological processes that combine to create habitable environments. We trace, spectroscopically, the cosmic evolution of organic molecules from the interstellar medium to protoplanetary disks, planetesimals and finally onto habitable bodies. We characterize the diversity of planetary systems emerging from protoplanetary disks, with a focus on the formation of planets that provide chemical raw materials, energy, and environments necessary to sustain prebiotic chemical evolution ... Continue reading.

Field Sites
25 Institutions
6 Project Reports
73 Publications
1 Field Site
Roadmap
Objectives

Project Reports

  • Interplanetary Pioneers – Final CAN-3 Report

    The possibility of life traveling from earth to beyond, and, in general, life traveling from planet to planet, has captured the public’s imagination for a century or more. We are now poised to assess this possibility with experimentation. In this project, we focus on halophiles – organisms that live in high salt environments – as potential earth life to survive space travel. Thus we have explored high UV and high salt environments, and have flown some of these organisms on European space missions. This year we also began to develop the use of high altitude ballooning to mimic travel beyond the surface of the earth.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.3 6.2
  • Origins of Functional Proteins and the Early Evolution of Metabolism

    The main goal of this project is to identify critical requirements for the emergence of biological complexity in early habitable environments by examining key steps in the origins and early evolution of catalytic functionality and metabolic reaction networks. Using proteins, which are the main catalytic agents in terrestrial organisms, we investigate whether enzymatic activity can arise from an inventory of polymers that have random sequences and that might have existed in habitable environments. We attempt the first demonstration of multiple origins of a single enzymatic function, and investigate experimentally how primordial proteins could evolve through the diversification of their structure and function. Building on this work and on our knowledge of ubiquitous protocellular functions and the constraints of prebiotic chemistry, we conduct computer simulations to elucidate fundamental principles that govern the coupled evolution of early metabolic reactions and their catalysts.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 3.2 3.4
  • Cosmic Distribution of Chemical Complexity

    This project seeks to improve our understanding of the connection between chemistry in space and the origin of life on Earth and possibly other worlds. Our approach is to trace the formation and development of chemical complexity in space, with particular emphasis on understanding the evolution from simple to complex species focusing on those that are interesting from a biogenic perspective and also understanding their possible roles in the origin of life on habitable worlds. We do this by first measuring the spectra and chemistry of materials under simulated space conditions in the laboratory. We then use these results to interpret astronomical observations made with ground-based and orbiting telescopes. We also carry out experiments on simulated extraterrestrial materials to analyze extraterrestrial samples returned by NASA missions or that fall to Earth in meteorites.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.4 4.3 7.1 7.2
  • Ecosphere to Biosphere Modeling – Final CAN-3 Report

    We have created a working model of a microbial mat called MBGC (for Microbial Biogeochemistry). The model examines the internal cycling of oxygen, carbon, and sulfur through a complex microbial ecosystem that may be similar to those found on early earth.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1 5.3 6.1
  • Mineralogical Traces of Early Habitable Environments

    The goal of our work is to discern the habitability (potential to support life) of ancient Martian environments, with an emphasis on understanding which environments could have supported life more abundantly than others. This information will help to guide the selection of sites on the Martian surface, for future missions designed to seek direct evidence of life. Our approach has two main parts: 1. We will use the presence of specific minerals or groups of minerals – an analysis that can be performed robotically on Mars — to constrain the chemical and physical conditions of the ancient environments in which they formed. 2. We will work to understand how the ability of environments on Earth to support more or less biomass depends on these same physical and chemical conditions.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.1
  • Disks and the Origins of Planetary Systems

    This task is concerned with understanding the evolution of complexity as primitive planetary bodies form in habitable zones. The planet formation process begins with fragmentation of large molecular clouds into flattened protoplanetary disks. This disk is in many ways an astrochemical “primeval soup” in which cosmically abundant elements are assembled into increasingly complex hydrocarbons and mixed in the dust and gas envelope within the disk. Gravitational attraction among the myriad small bodies leads to planet formation. If the newly formed planet is a suitable distance from its star to support liquid water at its surface, it lies within the so-called “habitable zone.” The goal of this project is to understand the formation process and identification of such life-supporting bodies.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 4.3

Education & Public Outreach

Publications

  • (no authors found) (2008). Science Priorities for Mars Sample Return. Astrobiology, 8(3), 489–535. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0759

  • (no authors found) (2009). Crystal ball – 2009. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 1(1), 3–26. doi:10.1111/j.1758-2229.2008.00010.x

  • Bajt, S., Sandford, S. A., Flynn, G. J., Matrajt, G., Snead, C. J., Westphal, A. J., & Bradley, J. P. (2009). Infrared spectroscopy of Wild 2 particle hypervelocity tracks in Stardust aerogel: Evidence for the presence of volatile organics in cometary dust. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 44(4), 471–484. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2009.tb00745.x

  • Batygin, K., Bodenheimer, P., & Laughlin, G. (2009). DETERMINATION OF THE INTERIOR STRUCTURE OF TRANSITING PLANETS IN MULTIPLE-PLANET SYSTEMS. The Astrophysical Journal, 704(1), L49–L53. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/704/1/l49

  • Bauschlicher, C. W., Peeters, E., & Allamandola, L. J. (2009). THE INFRARED SPECTRA OF VERY LARGE IRREGULAR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs): OBSERVATIONAL PROBES OF ASTRONOMICAL PAH GEOMETRY, SIZE, AND CHARGE. The Astrophysical Journal, 697(1), 311–327. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/697/1/311

  • Blank, J. G., Green, S. J., Blake, D., Valley, J. W., Kita, N. T., Treiman, A., & Dobson, P. F. (2009). An alkaline spring system within the Del Puerto Ophiolite (California, USA): A Mars analog site. Planetary and Space Science, 57(5-6), 533–540. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.11.018

  • Blum, J. S., Han, S., Lanoil, B., Saltikov, C., Witte, B., Tabita, F. R., … Oremland, R. S. (2009). Ecophysiology of “Halarsenatibacter silvermanii” Strain SLAS-1T, gen. nov., sp. nov., a Facultative Chemoautotrophic Arsenate Respirer from Salt-Saturated Searles Lake, California. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 75(7), 1950–1960. doi:10.1128/aem.02614-08

  • Boersma, C., Bauschlicher, C. W., Allamandola, L. J., Ricca, A., Peeters, E., & Tielens, A. G. G. M. (2010). The 15–20  μ m PAH emission features: probes of individual PAHs?. A&A, 511, A32. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200912714

  • Boersma, C., Mattioda, A. L., Bauschlicher, C. W., Peeters, E., Tielens, A. G. G. M., & Allamandola, L. J. (2008). THE 5.25 AND 5.7 μm ASTRONOMICAL POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON EMISSION FEATURES. The Astrophysical Journal, 690(2), 1208–1221. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/690/2/1208

  • Boersma, C., Mattioda, A. L., Bauschlicher, C. W., Peeters, E., Tielens, A. G. G. M., & Allamandola, L. J. (2009). ERRATUM: “THE 5.25 AND 5.7 μm ASTRONOMICAL POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON EMISSION FEATURES” (2009, ApJ, 690, 1208). The Astrophysical Journal, 694(1), 704–705. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/694/1/704

  • Bouwman, J., Paardekooper, D. M., Cuppen, H. M., Linnartz, H., & Allamandola, L. J. (2009). REAL-TIME OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED PYRENE:H 2 O INTERSTELLAR ICE. The Astrophysical Journal, 700(1), 56–62. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/700/1/56

  • Davis, S. S. (2009). An analytical model for a transient vapor plume on the Moon. Icarus, 202(2), 383–392. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.03.019

  • Des Marais, D. J., Allamandola, L. J., Benner, S. A., Boss, A. P., Deamer, D., Falkowski, P. G., … Yorke, H. W. (2003). The NASA Astrobiology Roadmap. Astrobiology, 3(2), 219–235. doi:10.1089/153110703769016299

  • Dupraz, C., Reid, R. P., Braissant, O., Decho, A. W., Norman, R. S., & Visscher, P. T. (2009). Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats. Earth-Science Reviews, 96(3), 141–162. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2008.10.005

  • Fike, D. A., Finke, N., Zha, J., Blake, G., Hoehler, T. M., & Orphan, V. J. (2009). The effect of sulfate concentration on (sub)millimeter-scale sulfide δ34S in hypersaline cyanobacterial mats over the diurnal cycle. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73(20), 6187–6204. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.07.006

  • Fike, D. A., Gammon, C. L., Ziebis, W., & Orphan, V. J. (2008). Micron-scale mapping of sulfur cycling across the oxycline of a cyanobacterial mat: a paired nanoSIMS and CARD-FISH approach. ISME J, 2(7), 749–759. doi:10.1038/ismej.2008.39

  • Glavin, D. P., Dworkin, J. P., & Sandford, S. A. (2008). Detection of cometary amines in samples returned by Stardust. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 43(1-2), 399–413. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2008.tb00629.x

  • Gorti, U., & Hollenbach, D. (2008). PHOTOEVAPORATION OF CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS BY FAR-ULTRAVIOLET, EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET AND X-RAY RADIATION FROM THE CENTRAL STAR. The Astrophysical Journal, 690(2), 1539–1552. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/690/2/1539

  • Gorti, U., Dullemond, C. P., & Hollenbach, D. (2009). TIME EVOLUTION OF VISCOUS CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS DUE TO PHOTOEVAPORATION BY FAR-ULTRAVIOLET, EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET, AND X-RAY RADIATION FROM THE CENTRAL STAR. The Astrophysical Journal, 705(2), 1237–1251. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/705/2/1237

  • Hausrath, E. M., Treiman, A. H., Vicenzi, E., Bish, D. L., Blake, D., Sarrazin, P., … Brantley, S. L. (2008). Short- and Long-Term Olivine Weathering in Svalbard: Implications for Mars. Astrobiology, 8(6), 1079–1092. doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0195

  • Hollenbach, D., & Gorti, U. (2009). DIAGNOSTIC LINE EMISSION FROM EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET AND X-RAY-ILLUMINATED DISKS AND SHOCKS AROUND LOW-MASS STARS. The Astrophysical Journal, 703(2), 1203–1223. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/703/2/1203

  • Hollenbach, D., Kaufman, M. J., Bergin, E. A., & Melnick, G. J. (2008). WATER, O 2 , AND ICE IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS. The Astrophysical Journal, 690(2), 1497–1521. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/690/2/1497

  • Jahnke, L. L., Orphan, V. J., Embaye, T., Turk, K. A., Kubo, M. D., Summons, R. E., & Des Marais, D. J. (2008). Lipid biomarker and phylogenetic analyses to reveal archaeal biodiversity and distribution in hypersaline microbial mat and underlying sediment. Geobiology, 6(4), 394–410. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2008.00165.x

  • Kane, S. R., Mahadevan, S., von Braun, K., Laughlin, G., & Ciardi, D. R. (2009). Refining Exoplanet Ephemerides and Transit Observing Strategies. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121(886), 1386–1394. doi:10.1086/648564

  • Konhauser, K. O., Pecoits, E., Lalonde, S. V., Papineau, D., Nisbet, E. G., Barley, M. E., … Kamber, B. S. (2009). Oceanic nickel depletion and a methanogen famine before the Great Oxidation Event. Nature, 458(7239), 750–753. doi:10.1038/nature07858

  • Mattioda, A. L., Ricca, A., Tucker, J., Bauschlicher, C. W., & Allamandola, L. J. (2009). FAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF NEUTRAL CORONENE, OVALENE, AND DICORONYLENE. The Astronomical Journal, 137(4), 4054–4060. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/4/4054

  • Meschiari, S., Wolf, A. S., Rivera, E., Laughlin, G., Vogt, S., & Butler, P. (2009). Systemic: A Testbed for Characterizing the Detection of Extrasolar Planets. I. The Systemic Console Package. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121(883), 1016–1027. doi:10.1086/605730

  • Montgomery, R., & Laughlin, G. (2009). Formation and detection of Earth mass planets around low mass stars. Icarus, 202(1), 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.02.035

  • Nuevo, M., Milam, S. N., Sandford, S. A., Elsila, J. E., & Dworkin, J. P. (2009). Formation of Uracil from the Ultraviolet Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Pure H 2 O Ices. Astrobiology, 9(7), 683–695. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0324

  • Orphan, V. J., & House, C. H. (2009). Geobiological investigations using secondary ion mass spectrometry: microanalysis of extant and paleo-microbial processes. Geobiology, 7(3), 360–372. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2009.00201.x

  • Orphan, V. J., Jahnke, L. L., Embaye, T., Turk, K. A., Pernthaler, A., Summons, R. E., & Des Marais, D. J. (2008). Characterization and spatial distribution of methanogens and methanogenic biosignatures in hypersaline microbial mats of Baja California. Geobiology, 6(4), 376–393. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2008.00166.x

  • Parenteau, M. N., & Cady, S. L. (2010). MICROBIAL BIOSIGNATURES IN IRON-MINERALIZED PHOTOTROPHIC MATS AT CHOCOLATE POTS HOT SPRINGS, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, UNITED STATES. PALAIOS, 25(2), 97–111. doi:10.2110/palo.2008.p08-133r

  • Pohorille, A., & Deamer, D. (2009). Self-assembly and function of primitive cell membranes. Research in Microbiology, 160(7), 449–456. doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2009.06.004

  • Rothschild, L. J. (2008). The evolution of photosynthesis…again?. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1504), 2787–2801. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0056

  • Sandford, S. A. (2008). Terrestrial Analysis of the Organic Component of Comet Dust*. Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, 1(1), 549–578. doi:10.1146/annurev.anchem.1.031207.113108

  • Vogel, M. B., Des Marais, D. J., Parenteau, M. N., Jahnke, L. L., Turk, K. A., & Kubo, M. D. Y. (2010). Biological influences on modern sulfates: Textures and composition of gypsum deposits from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sedimentary Geology, 223(3-4), 265–280. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2009.11.013

  • Vogel, M. B., Des Marais, D. J., Turk, K. A., Parenteau, M. N., Jahnke, L. L., & Kubo, M. D. Y. (2009). The Role of Biofilms in the Sedimentology of Actively Forming Gypsum Deposits at Guerrero Negro, Mexico. Astrobiology, 9(9), 875–893. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0325

  • Wei, C., & Pohorille, A. (2009). Permeation of Membranes by Ribose and Its Diastereomers. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(29), 10237–10245. doi:10.1021/ja902531k

  • Blake, D., Treiman, A.H. & Robinson, K.L.  (2009, in preparation).  CheMin detectability of carbonate and clay minerals in altered ultramafic rocks (tentative title).  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 41.
  • Blake, D.F., Vaniman, D., Anderson, R., Bish, D.L., Chipera, S., Chemtob, S., Crisp, J., Des Marais, D.J., Downs, R., Farmer, J.D., Gailhanou, M., Ming, D., Morris, D., Stolper, E., Sarrazin, P., Treiman, A. & Yen, A.  (2009).  The CHEMIN Mineralogical Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory Mission. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 23-27, 2009, The Woodlands, TX. Abstract No. 1484.
  • Cardace, D. & Hoehler, T.M.  (2009).  Serpentinizing Fluids Craft Microbial Habitat.  In: Favolise-Stanton, A. (Eds.).  Soil and Biota of Serpentine: A World View. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference of Serpentine Ecology.  Vol. 5.  Northeastern Naturalist (Steuben, Maine) Special Issue.
  • Cody, G.,.D., Ade, H., Alexander, C.M.O.D., Araki, T., Butterworth, A., Fleckenstein, H., Flynn, G., Gilles, M.K., Jacobsen, C., Kilcoyne, A.L.D., Messenger, K., Sandford, S.A., Tyliszczak, T., Westphal, A.J., Wirick, S. & Yabuta, H.  (2008).  Quantitative Organic and Light-Element Analysis of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Particles using C-, N-, and O- µ-XANES.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43: 353-365.
  • Davis, S.S. & Young, E.D.  (2008).  The Distribution of Oxygen Isotopes in a Protoplanetary Nebula. Astrobiology Science Conference.
  • Des Marais, D.J. & Vogel, M.B.  (2008).  Interpreting biosignatures in the context of marine evaporitic environments. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P53D-08.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2008).  Assessing the nature, distribution and duration of Noachian habitable environments. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P43D-08.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Hints of habitable environments on Mars challenge our studies of Mars-Analog sites on Earth [Abstract], Goldschmidt Conference 2009.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73(13, Supp. 1 (June 2009)): A285.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Origins and Cycling of CO2 on Earth during the Archean and Proterozoic Eons [Abstract]. AAPG Conference, June 7-10, 2009, Denver, CO.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Potential lifestyles in ancient environments characterized by the Mars Exploration Rovers. The New Martian Chemistry Workshop (LPI), July 27-28, 2009, Medford, MA. Abstract No. 8031.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009, in press).  Marine hypersaline Microcoleus-dominated cyanobacterial mats in the saltern at Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Cellular Origins, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology (COLE) Series.  In: Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  In Microbial Mats.  Springer.
  • Des Marais, D.J., Jakosky, B.M. & Hynek, B.M.  (2008).  Astrobiological implications of Mars surface composition and properties.  In: Bell, J.A. (Eds.).  In The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy and Physical Properties.  Vol. 9, Chapter 26.  Cambridge Planetary Science.
  • Green, S.J. & Jahnke, L.L.  (2009, in press).  Microbial Mats.  In: Oren, A. & Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  Springer-Verlag.
  • Hoehler, T.M.  (2008).  Energy as a constraint on habitability in the subsurface. [ABSTRACT] (Invited).  EOS Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl: B52B-01.
  • Hoehler, T.M., Alperin, M.J., McCollom, T.M. & Rogers, K.L.  (2008).  Habitability of serpentinizing systems for methanogenic microorganisms: an energy balance model. [ABSTRACT].  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72(12), Supplement 1: 383.
  • Kwok, S. & Sandford, S.  (2008).  Organic Matter in Space.  Proceedings of IAU.  Vol. Proc. Of IAU Symposium 251.  Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
  • Matrajt, G., Ito, M., Wirick, S., Messenger, S., Brownlee, D.E., Joswiak, D., Flynn, G., Sandford, S., Snead, C. & Westphal, A.  (2008).  Carbon Investigation of Two Stardust Particles: A TEM, NanoSIMS, and XANES Study.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43: 315-334.
  • Parenteau, M.N., Jahnke, L.L., Boomer, S.M., Cady, S.L. & Pierson, B.K.  (2009).  Do cyanobacteria use Fe2+ as an electron donor for photosynthesis.  Abstr. Ann. Mtg. Am. Soc. Microbiology.
  • Pilcher, C.B. & Lissauer, J.J.  (2009).  The Quest for Habitable Worlds and Life Beyond the Solar System. Exploring the Origin, Extent and Future of Life.  In: Bertka, C.M. (Eds.).  Cambridge University Press.
  • Pohorille, A.  (2009, to be published).  Contingency vs. determinism in the origin of life.  Orig. Life Evol. Biosphere.
  • Pohorille, A.  (2009, to be published).  Emerging properties in the origins of life and Darwinian evolution.  Orig. Life Evol. Biosphere.
  • Pohorille, A., Wilson, M.A. & Wei, C.  (2009, in press).  The Earliest Ion Channels.  Bioastronomy.
  • Pohorille, A., Wilson, M.A. & Wei, C.  (2009, in press).  The Earliest Ion Channels.  In: Meech, K., Keane, J., Mumma, M., Siefert, J. & Werthimer, D. (Eds.).  Proceedings of the Bioastronomy 2007 Conference.  Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
  • Richard , D.T. & Davis, S.S.  (2008).  Polarimetric signature of dust and aggregates of silicates and organics. Astrobiology Science Conference.
  • Richard, D.T. & Davis, S.S.  (2008).  Lunar Dust Characterization by Polarimetric Signature: I Negative Polarization Branch of Sphere Aggregates of various Porosities.  Astronomy & Astrophysics, 483: 643-649.
  • Richard, D.T., Glenar, D.A., Stubbs, T.J., Davis, S.S. & Colaprete, A.  (2009).  “But still, like dust, I’ll rise” Modeling the Scattering Signature of Lunar Dust for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer. [Abstract]. NASA Lunar Science Institute Forum, July 2009.
  • Rothschild, L.J.  (2009).  A Biologist’s Guide to the Solar System.  In: Bertka, C. (Eds.).  Exploring the Origin, Extent and Future of Life.  Cambridge University Press.
  • Rotundi, A., Baratta, G.A., Borg, J., Brucato, J.R., Busemann, H., Colangeli, L., D’HenDecourt, L., Djouadi, Z., Ferrini, G., Franchi, I.A., Fries, M., Grossemy, F., Keller, L.P., Mennella, V., Nakamura, K., Nittler, L.R., Palumbo, M.E., Sandford, S.A., Steele, A. & Wopenka, B.  (2008).  Combined Micro-Raman, Micro-Infrared, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope Analyses of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Particles Collected by Stardust.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43: 367-397.
  • Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Organics in the Samples Returned from Comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust Spacecraft.  In: Kwok, S. & Sandford, S. (Eds.).  Organic Matter in Space.  Vol. Proc. Of IAU Symposium 251.  Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
  • Stubbs, T.J., Glenar, D.A., Richard, D.T. & Colaprete, A.  (2009).  Predictions for the optical scattering at the Moon, as observed by the LADEE UV/VIS spectrometer [Abstract]. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Treiman, A.H.  (2009).  Martian aqueous alterations in ALH 84001 and the nakhlite meteorites [abstract #4031]. Workshop on Modeling Martian Hydrous Environments.
  • Visscher, P.T., Dupraz, C., Braissant, O., Gallagher, K.L., Glunk, C., Casillas, L. & Reed, R.E.S.  (2009, in press).  Biogeochemistry of carbon cycling in hypersaline mats: Linking the present to the past through biosignatures.  In: Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology.  Sprnger Verlag.
  • Vogel, M.B., Des Marais, D.J., Jahnke, L.L. & Parenteau, M.N.  (2009).  Distinctive accessory minerals, textures and crystal habits in biofilm associated gypsum deposits.  EOS Transactions, AGU Fall Meeting Supplement, 89(53): P51A-1406.
  • Vogel, M.B., Des Marais, D.J., Jahnke, L.L., Turk, K.A., Kubo, M. & Parenteau, M.N.  (2008).  Biosignatures in modern sulfates: texture and composition of gypsum from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P51A-1406.
  • Yabuta, H., Cody, G.D., Kilcoyne, A.L.D., Araki, T., Alexander, C.M.O.D. & Sandford, S.  (2009).  X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy analyses of organic matter in comet particles (in Japanese).  Researches in Organic Geochemistry, 23: 147-157.

2009 Teams