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2009 Annual Science Report

Carnegie Institution of Washington Reporting  |  JUL 2008 – AUG 2009

Executive Summary

The NASA Astrobiology Institute team led by the Carnegie Institution of Washington is dedicated to the study of the extrasolar planets, solar system formation, organic rich primitive planetary bodies, deep sequestration of CHON volatiles in terrestrial planets, prebiotic molecular synthesis through geocatalysis, and the connection between planetary evolution the emergence, and sustenance of biology – processes central to the missions of the NAI. Our program attempts to integrate the sweeping narrative of life’s history through a combination of bottom-up and top-down studies. On the one hand, we study processes related to chemical and physical evolution in plausible prebiotic environments – circumstellar disks, extrasolar planetary systems and the primitive Earth. Complementary to these bottom-up investigations of life’s origin, we will continue our field and experimental top-down efforts to document the nature of microbial life at extreme conditions, as well as the characterization of organic matter in ancient fossils. Both types of efforts inform our development of biotechnological approaches to life detection on other worlds.

Our team’s research focus on life’s chemical and physical evolution, from the interstellar medium, through planetary systems, to the emergence and detection of life, across six integrated and interdisciplinary areas of research:

1. We continue to apply theory and observations to investigate the nature and distribution of extrasolar planets both through radial velocity and astrometric methods, the composition of circumstellar disks, early mixing and transport in young disks, and late mixing and planetary migration in the Solar System, and Solar System bodies.

2. We conduct observational analytical research on the volatile and organic rich Solar System Bodies by focusing on astronomical surveying of outer solar system objects and performing in-house analyses of meteorite, interplanetary dust particle, and Comet Wild 2/81P samples with an emphasis on characterizing the distribution, state and chemical history of primitive organic matter.

3. We study the origin and evolution of the terrestrial planets with a special emphasis on CHON volatiles, their delivery and retention in the deep interiors of terrestrial planets. We will experimentally investigate how CHON volatiles may be retained even during magma ocean phases of terrestrial evolution. We investigate the early Earth’s recycling processes studying the isotopic composition of diamonds, diamond inclusions, and associated lithologies. We address how early geotectonic processes lead to the diversification of minerals perhaps required for the origin of life and certainly later modified by the presence of life.

4. We investigate the geochemical steps that may have lead to the origin of life, focusing on identifying and characterizing mineral catalyzed organic reaction networks that lead from simple volatiles, e.g., CO2, NH3, and H2, up to greater molecular complexity. We explore the role of minerals to enhance molecular selection, both isomeric and chiral selection, as well as molecular organization on mineral surfaces.

5. We continue to study the intersection between geology and biology. We continue to explore how sub-seafloor interactions support deep ocean hydrothermal ecosystems. We study life’s adaption to extremes of pressure, cold, and salinity. We adapt and apply multiple isotopic sulfur geochemistry towards the understanding of microbial metabolism and as a means of detecting ancient metabolisms recorded in the rock record through characteristic sulfur isotopic signatures. We apply state-of-the-art methods to derive chemical and isotopic biosignatures of life in the Earth’s most ancient rocks.

6. We are continuing work coordinating advanced instrument testing with our involvement with the Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) in support of Mars Science Laboratory, including ChemMin, SAM as well as elements of the ExoMars payload including Raman and Life Marker Chip Instruments.

Fuller understanding of life’s origin, evolution, and distribution requires major advances on all these topics, as well as the extensive challenge of integrating these topics. During the next four years of NAI support we anticipate significant progress in each of these six areas, as well as considerable advances derived from integrating these theoretical, experimental, and field studies.

Highlights in the area of Studies of the Physical and chemical evolution of planetary systems during the past year include the following:

  • We are continuing our radial velocity measurements and are presently discovering the first terrestrial mass planets and Solar System analogues.
  • Our CAPScam-S instrument installed on the du Pont 2.5 m telescope yields an accuracy of better than 0.4 milliarcsec, accuracy of better than 0.3 millarcsec is anticipated soon.
  • Our 3D Marginally Gravitationally Unstable (MGU) disk model reveals rapid mixing of initially highly heterogeneous distributions of volatiles to levels of ~ 10 % into the inner solar system.
  • Our wide field observations of Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) have detected a turnover at the faint end of the Cumulative Luminosity Function (CLU)
  • Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the HR4796 disk reveals significant flux density asymmetries revealing that sculpting of the disk has occurred by an invisible companion or an unseen planetary-mass perturber.

Highlights in the area of Origin and Evolution of Organic Matter in the Solar System during the past year include the following:

  • Our recent optical measurements of KBOs appear to prove that very red (presumably organic rich) material is a more general feature for objects farther out from the sun.
  • Advanced molecular spectroscopy of Insoluble Organic Matter (IOM) in primitive chondritic meteorites reveal that the most likely origin of IOM is from a complex mixture of sugars.
  • Correlated analyses of carbonaceous nanoglobules (nano to micron scale hollow organic spheres) appear to be ubiquitous in chondritic meteorites. These enigmatic objects appear to be generally isotopically heavy in D and 15-N, well above what is observed in bulk IOM.
  • Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) likely sampled from the comet Grigg-Skjellerup are isotopically (D and 15-N) the most primitive samples yet analyzed.

Highlights in the area of The Origin, Evolution, and Volatile Inventories of Terrestrial Planets during the past year include the following:

  • Our recent calculations reveal that rapid accretion of dust to 1-1000 km diameter planetesimals is viable under plausible disk conditions. Rapid accretion appears to be the only means of making planets given our current physical models of disk evolution.
  • The Messenger mission flyby past Mercury has provided an abundance of new information regarding this enigmatic planet.
  • Methane reacted at temperatures and pressures representative of the Earth’s deep interior has been shown to react to form higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.
  • Methane solubility in silicate melts at deep crustal temperatures and pressures can reach up to 0.5 wt %, far beyond what was previously assumed.
  • Isotopic fractionation between fluid methane and soluble methane in silicate melts can vary as much as 14 permil even at temperatures in excess of 1000 K.
  • The origin and distribution of uranium minerals on the Earth’s surface has been shown to elucidate the principle of mineral evolution as a response to the rise of the Earth’s biosphere.

Highlights in the area of The Geochemical Steps Leading to the Origin of Life during the past year include the following:

  • Formaldehdye can be synthesized under hydrothermal conditions via an unexpected reaction. This reaction provides a source of formaldehyde in an environment where the direct reduction of CO2 or CO to formaldehyde is thermodynamically impossible.
  • The absorption behavior of amino-acids on mineral surfaces can be modeled accurately with a newly developed surface complexation model that integrates state-of-the-art thermodynamic parameterization.

Highlights in the area of Geological-Biological Interactions during the past year include the following:

  • Approximately 85 % of all detectible cells in a biofilm retrieved from the Lost City hydrothermal field belong to a single, novel phylotype of archaea affiliated with the order Methanosarcinales, a group that is both methane producing and methane consuming.
  • Species distribution shifts in microbial ecosystems associated with deep sea hydrothermal environments reveal that rare organisms can increase in abundance significantly on the order of years in response to environmental change.
  • Experiments into the physiological effects of pressure (e.g. ocean sea floor pressures) reveal that pressure alone can rapidly prune complex microbial communities to essentially pure cultures.
  • Even in essentially mono-mineralic, dry sulfate (gypsum) environments, e.g. the dunes in the White Sands Desert (NM), extensive biodiversity (Eubacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota) can be readily detected using standard molecular biological techniques. This indicates that environments on Mars that are similar in mineralogy may yet record a signature of life.
  • Advances in NanoSIMs method development for the analysis of the three isotopes of sulfur reveal a clear signature of an anoxic Neoarchean atmosphere at spatial scales of less than a micron.
  • Micron scale 13-C analysis of graphite grains identified in the ancient Akilia QP lithology in Greenland reveal significant isotopic heterogeneity in sub-domains of single crystal graphite that may constitutue a biosignature.
  • Studies of Paleoproterozoic phosphorite deposits suggest that the rise in atmospheric oxygen around 2.5 Ga may have been due in part to an increased delivery in riverine phosphate at that time.

Highlights in the area of Astrobiological Flight Instrumentation Testing during the past year include the following:

  • This past summer a 40 member science and engineering team successfully performed in field simulations of analytical instrumentation destined to fly on future Mars missions.

In summary, our team’s recent research, including discoveries and characterization of new planetary systems, investigation of the fates of carbon and water on planetary building blocks and other worlds, elucidation of robust pathways for prebiotic organic synthesis, documentation of novel microbial metabolic strategies, evaluation of possible biosignatures, and development of new technologies for astrobiological exploration, inform the central questions of astrobiology. Taken together, these discoveries are changing our views of life’s origin and its possible distribution in the universe.

Publications

  • (no authors found) (2008). Brave new worlds. Nature, 455(7210), 137–138. doi:10.1038/455137b

  • Alexander, C. M. O. D., Newsome, S. D., Fogel, M. L., Nittler, L. R., Busemann, H., & Cody, G. D. (2010). Deuterium enrichments in chondritic macromolecular material—Implications for the origin and evolution of organics, water and asteroids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(15), 4417–4437. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.05.005

  • Anderson, B. J., AcuñA, M. H., Korth, H., Slavin, J. A., Uno, H., Johnson, C. L., … McNutt, R. L. (2009). The Magnetic Field of Mercury. Space Sci Rev, 152(1-4), 307–339. doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9544-3

  • Arriagada, P., Butler, R. P., Minniti, D., López-Morales, M., Shectman, S. A., Adams, F. C., … Chambers, J. E. (2010). FIVE LONG-PERIOD EXTRASOLAR PLANETS IN ECCENTRIC ORBITS FROM THE MAGELLAN PLANET SEARCH PROGRAM. The Astrophysical Journal, 711(2), 1229–1235. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/711/2/1229

  • Bailey, J., Butler, R. P., Tinney, C. G., Jones, H. R. A., O’Toole, S., Carter, B. D., & Marcy, G. W. (2008). A JUPITER-LIKE PLANET ORBITING THE NEARBY M DWARF GJ 832. The Astrophysical Journal, 690(1), 743–747. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/690/1/743

  • Baker, D. N., Odstrcil, D., Anderson, B. J., Arge, C. N., Benna, M., Gloeckler, G., … Zurbuchen, T. H. (2009). Space environment of Mercury at the time of the first MESSENGER flyby: Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field modeling of upstream conditions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 114(A10), n/a–n/a. doi:10.1029/2009ja014287

  • Bakos, G. Á., Pál, A., Torres, G., Sipőcz, B., Latham, D. W., Noyes, R. W., … Sári, P. (2009). HAT-P-10b: A LIGHT AND MODERATELY HOT JUPITER TRANSITING A K DWARF. The Astrophysical Journal, 696(2), 1950–1955. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/696/2/1950

  • Bakos, G. Á., Torres, G., Pál, A., Hartman, J., Kovács, G., Noyes, R. W., … Sári, P. (2010). HAT-P-11b: A SUPER-NEPTUNE PLANET TRANSITING A BRIGHT K STAR IN THE KEPLER FIELD. The Astrophysical Journal, 710(2), 1724–1745. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/710/2/1724

  • Blewett, D. T., Robinson, M. S., Denevi, B. W., Gillis-Davis, J. J., Head, J. W., Solomon, S. C., … McClintock, W. E. (2009). Multispectral images of Mercury from the first MESSENGER flyby: Analysis of global and regional color trends. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 272–282. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.02.021

  • Boardsen, S. A., Slavin, J. A., Anderson, B. J., Korth, H., & Solomon, S. C. (2009). Comparison of ultra-low-frequency waves at Mercury under northward and southward IMF. Geophysical Research Letters, 36(18), None. doi:10.1029/2009gl039525

  • Bond, J. C., Lauretta, D. S., Tinney, C. G., Butler, R. P., Marcy, G. W., Jones, H. R. A., … Bailey, J. (2008). Beyond the Iron Peak: r ‐ and s ‐Process Elemental Abundances in Stars with Planets. The Astrophysical Journal, 682(2), 1234–1247. doi:10.1086/589236

  • Boss, A. P. (2009). ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIATIVE TRANSFER: IMPLICATIONS FOR GIANT PLANET FORMATION BY DISK INSTABILITY. The Astrophysical Journal, 694(1), 107–114. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/694/1/107

  • Boss, A. P., Weinberger, A. J., Anglada-Escudé, G., Thompson, I. B., Burley, G., Birk, C., … Patterson, R. J. (2009). The Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search Program. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121(885), 1218–1231. doi:10.1086/647960

  • Brazelton, W. J., & Baross, J. A. (2009). Abundant transposases encoded by the metagenome of a hydrothermal chimney biofilm. ISME J, 3(12), 1420–1424. doi:10.1038/ismej.2009.79

  • Busemann, H., Nguyen, A. N., Cody, G. D., Hoppe, P., Kilcoyne, A. L. D., Stroud, R. M., … Nittler, L. R. (2009). Ultra-primitive interplanetary dust particles from the comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup dust stream collection. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 288(1-2), 44–57. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.09.007

  • Butler, R. P., Howard, A. W., Vogt, S. S., & Wright, J. T. (2009). NONDETECTION OF THE NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET REPORTED AROUND GJ 176. The Astrophysical Journal, 691(2), 1738–1743. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/691/2/1738

  • Cleaves, H. J., Jonsson, C. M., Jonsson, C. L., Sverjensky, D. A., & Hazen, R. M. (2010). Adsorption of Nucleic Acid Components on Rutile (TiO 2 ) Surfaces. Astrobiology, 10(3), 311–323. doi:10.1089/ast.2009.0397

  • De Gregorio, B. T., Stroud, R. M., Nittler, L. R., Alexander, C. M. O. D., Kilcoyne, A. L. D., & Zega, T. J. (2010). Isotopic anomalies in organic nanoglobules from Comet 81P/Wild 2: Comparison to Murchison nanoglobules and isotopic anomalies induced in terrestrial organics by electron irradiation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(15), 4454–4470. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.05.010

  • Debes, J. H., Weinberger, A. J., & Kuchner, M. J. (2009). INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM SCULPTING OF THE HD 32297 DEBRIS DISK. The Astrophysical Journal, 702(1), 318–326. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/702/1/318

  • Debes, J. H., Weinberger, A. J., & Song, I. (2008). Color Gradients Detected in the HD 15115 Circumstellar Disk. The Astrophysical Journal, 684(1), L41–L44. doi:10.1086/592018

  • 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

  • Eigenbrode, J., Benning, L. G., Maule, J., Wainwright, N., Steele, A., & Amundsen, H. E. F. (2009). A Field-Based Cleaning Protocol for Sampling Devices Used in Life-Detection Studies. Astrobiology, 9(5), 455–465. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0275

  • Ernst, C. M., Murchie, S. L., Barnouin, O. S., Robinson, M. S., Denevi, B. W., Blewett, D. T., … Roberts, J. H. (2010). Exposure of spectrally distinct material by impact craters on Mercury: Implications for global stratigraphy. Icarus, 209(1), 210–223. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.05.022

  • Fassett, C. I., Head, J. W., Blewett, D. T., Chapman, C. R., Dickson, J. L., Murchie, S. L., … Watters, T. R. (2009). Caloris impact basin: Exterior geomorphology, stratigraphy, morphometry, radial sculpture, and smooth plains deposits. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 297–308. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.05.022

  • Freed, A. M., Solomon, S. C., Watters, T. R., Phillips, R. J., & Zuber, M. T. (2009). Could Pantheon Fossae be the result of the Apollodorus crater-forming impact within the Caloris basin, Mercury?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 320–327. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.02.038

  • Gillis-Davis, J. J., Blewett, D. T., Gaskell, R. W., Denevi, B. W., Robinson, M. S., Strom, R. G., … Sprague, A. L. (2009). Pit-floor craters on Mercury: Evidence of near-surface igneous activity. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 243–250. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.05.023

  • Gómez-Pérez, N., & Wicht, J. (2010). Behavior of planetary dynamos under the influence of external magnetic fields: Application to Mercury and Ganymede. Icarus, 209(1), 53–62. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.04.006

  • Gómez-Pérez, N., Heimpel, M., & Wicht, J. (2010). Effects of a radially varying electrical conductivity on 3D numerical dynamos. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 181(1-2), 42–53. doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2010.03.006

  • Hartman, J. D., Bakos, G. Á., Torres, G., Kovács, G., Noyes, R. W., Pál, A., … Sári, P. (2009). HAT-P-12b: A LOW-DENSITY SUB-SATURN MASS PLANET TRANSITING A METAL-POOR K DWARF. The Astrophysical Journal, 706(1), 785–796. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/706/1/785

  • 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

  • Head, J. W., Murchie, S. L., Prockter, L. M., Solomon, S. C., Chapman, C. R., Strom, R. G., … Kerber, L. (2009). Volcanism on Mercury: Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby for extrusive and explosive activity and the volcanic origin of plains. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 227–242. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.03.007

  • Head, J. W., Murchie, S. L., Prockter, L. M., Solomon, S. C., Strom, R. G., Chapman, C. R., … Ostrach, L. R. (2009). Evidence for intrusive activity on Mercury from the first MESSENGER flyby. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 251–262. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.03.008

  • Johnson, J. A., Winn, J. N., Narita, N., Enya, K., Williams, P. K. G., Marcy, G. W., … Hidas, M. (2008). Measurement of the Spin‐Orbit Angle of Exoplanet HAT‐P‐1b. The Astrophysical Journal, 686(1), 649–657. doi:10.1086/591078

  • Jonsson, C. M., Jonsson, C. L., Estrada, C., Sverjensky, D. A., Cleaves, H. J., & Hazen, R. M. (2010). Adsorption of l-aspartate to rutile (α-TiO2): Experimental and theoretical surface complexation studies. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(8), 2356–2367. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.01.003

  • Jonsson, C. M., Jonsson, C. L., Sverjensky, D. A., Cleaves, H. J., & Hazen, R. M. (2009). Attachment of l -Glutamate to Rutile (α-TiO 2 ): A Potentiometric, Adsorption, and Surface Complexation Study. Langmuir, 25(20), 12127–12135. doi:10.1021/la901635t

  • Kerber, L., Head, J. W., Solomon, S. C., Murchie, S. L., Blewett, D. T., & Wilson, L. (2009). Explosive volcanic eruptions on Mercury: Eruption conditions, magma volatile content, and implications for interior volatile abundances. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 263–271. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.04.037

  • Latham, D. W., Bakos, G. Á., Torres, G., Stefanik, R. P., Noyes, R. W., Kovács, G., … Sári, P. (2009). DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET AND EIGHT ECLIPSING BINARIES IN HATNet FIELD G205. The Astrophysical Journal, 704(2), 1107–1119. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/704/2/1107

  • Laughlin, G., Deming, D., Langton, J., Kasen, D., Vogt, S., Butler, P., … Meschiari, S. (2009). Rapid heating of the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet. Nature, 457(7229), 562–564. doi:10.1038/nature07649

  • Lawrence, D. J., Feldman, W. C., Goldsten, J. O., McCoy, T. J., Blewett, D. T., Boynton, W. V., … Solomon, S. C. (2010). Identification and measurement of neutron-absorbing elements on Mercury’s surface. Icarus, 209(1), 195–209. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.04.005

  • Maule, J., Wainwright, N., Steele, A., Monaco, L., Morris, H., Gunter, D., … Wells, M. (2009). Rapid Culture-Independent Microbial Analysis Aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astrobiology, 9(8), 759–775. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0319

  • Minniti, D., Butler, R. P., López-Morales, M., Shectman, S. A., Adams, F. C., Arriagada, P., … Chambers, J. E. (2009). LOW-MASS COMPANIONS FOR FIVE SOLAR-TYPE STARS FROM THE MAGELLAN PLANET SEARCH PROGRAM. The Astrophysical Journal, 693(2), 1424–1430. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/693/2/1424

  • Mohit, P. S., Johnson, C. L., Barnouin-Jha, O., Zuber, M. T., & Solomon, S. C. (2009). Shallow basins on Mercury: Evidence of relaxation?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 355–363. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.04.023

  • O’Toole, S. J., Jones, H. R. A., Tinney, C. G., Butler, R. P., Marcy, G. W., Carter, B., … Wittenmyer, R. A. (2009). THE FREQUENCY OF LOW-MASS EXOPLANETS. The Astrophysical Journal, 701(2), 1732–1741. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/701/2/1732

  • O’Toole, S. J., Tinney, C. G., Jones, H. R. A., Butler, R. P., Marcy, G. W., Carter, B., & Bailey, J. (2009). Selection functions in doppler planet searches. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 392(2), 641–654. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14051.x

  • O’Toole, S., Tinney, C. G., Butler, R. P., Jones, H. R. A., Bailey, J., Carter, B. D., … Rivera, E. J. (2009). A NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET ORBITING THE NEARBY G DWARF HD 16417. The Astrophysical Journal, 697(2), 1263–1268. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/697/2/1263

  • Opatkiewicz, A. D., Butterfield, D. A., & Baross, J. A. (2009). Individual hydrothermal vents at Axial Seamount harbor distinct subseafloor microbial communities. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 70(3), 413–424. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2009.00747.x

  • 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

  • Papineau, D. (2010). Global Biogeochemical Changes at Both Ends of the Proterozoic: Insights from Phosphorites. Astrobiology, 10(2), 165–181. doi:10.1089/ast.2009.0360

  • Papineau, D., Purohit, R., Goldberg, T., Pi, D., Shields, G. A., Bhu, H., … Fogel, M. L. (2009). High primary productivity and nitrogen cycling after the Paleoproterozoic phosphogenic event in the Aravalli Supergroup, India. Precambrian Research, 171(1-4), 37–56. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2009.03.005

  • Purucker, M. E., Sabaka, T. J., Solomon, S. C., Anderson, B. J., Korth, H., Zuber, M. T., & Neumann, G. A. (2009). Mercury’s internal magnetic field: Constraints on large- and small-scale fields of crustal origin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 340–346. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2008.12.017

  • Pál, A., Bakos, G. Á., Fernandez, J., Sipőcz, B., Torres, G., Latham, D. W., … Isaacson, H. (2009). INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION AND REFINED PARAMETERS OF THE HOT JUPITER XO-5b. The Astrophysical Journal, 700(1), 783–790. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/700/1/783

  • Pál, A., Bakos, G. Á., Torres, G., Noyes, R. W., Fischer, D. A., Johnson, J. A., … Esquerdo, G. A. (2010). Refined stellar, orbital and planetary parameters of the eccentric HAT-P-2 planetary system. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 401(4), 2665–2674. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15849.x

  • Rivera, E. J., Butler, R. P., Vogt, S. S., Laughlin, G., Henry, G. W., & Meschiari, S. (2009). A SUPER-EARTH ORBITING THE NEARBY SUN-LIKE STAR HD 1461. The Astrophysical Journal, 708(2), 1492–1499. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/708/2/1492

  • Schneider, G., Weinberger, A. J., Becklin, E. E., Debes, J. H., & Smith, B. A. (2008). STIS IMAGING OF THE HR 4796A CIRCUMSTELLAR DEBRIS RING. The Astronomical Journal, 137(1), 53–61. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/1/53

  • Sheppard, S. S. (2010). THE COLORS OF EXTREME OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS. The Astronomical Journal, 139(4), 1394–1405. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/4/1394

  • Simon, J. D., Gal-Yam, A., Gnat, O., Quimby, R. M., Ganeshalingam, M., Silverman, J. M., … Mazzali, P. A. (2009). VARIABLE SODIUM ABSORPTION IN A LOW-EXTINCTION TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA,. The Astrophysical Journal, 702(2), 1157–1170. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/702/2/1157

  • Slavin, J. A., Acuna, M. H., Anderson, B. J., Baker, D. N., Benna, M., Boardsen, S. A., … Zurbuchen, T. H. (2009). MESSENGER Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in Mercury’s Magnetosphere. Science, 324(5927), 606–610. doi:10.1126/science.1172011

  • Smith, D. E., Zuber, M. T., Phillips, R. J., Solomon, S. C., Neumann, G. A., Lemoine, F. G., … Oberst, J. (2010). The equatorial shape and gravity field of Mercury from MESSENGER flybys 1 and 2. Icarus, 209(1), 88–100. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.04.007

  • Sozzetti, A., Torres, G., Latham, D. W., Stefanik, R. P., Korzennik, S. G., Boss, A. P., … Laird, J. B. (2009). A KECK HIRES DOPPLER SEARCH FOR PLANETS ORBITING METAL-POOR DWARFS. II. ON THE FREQUENCY OF GIANT PLANETS IN THE METAL-POOR REGIME. The Astrophysical Journal, 697(1), 544–556. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/697/1/544

  • Szynkiewicz, A., Ewing, R. C., Moore, C. H., Glamoclija, M., Bustos, D., & Pratt, L. M. (2010). Origin of terrestrial gypsum dunes—Implications for Martian gypsum-rich dunes of Olympia Undae. Geomorphology, 121(1-2), 69–83. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.02.017

  • Uno, H., Johnson, C. L., Anderson, B. J., Korth, H., & Solomon, S. C. (2009). Modeling Mercury’s internal magnetic field with smooth inversions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 328–339. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.02.032

  • Vogt, S. S., Wittenmyer, R. A., Butler, R. P., O’Toole, S., Henry, G. W., Rivera, E. J., … Batygin, K. (2009). A SUPER-EARTH AND TWO NEPTUNES ORBITING THE NEARBY SUN-LIKE STAR 61 VIRGINIS. The Astrophysical Journal, 708(2), 1366–1375. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/708/2/1366

  • Watters, T. R., Murchie, S. L., Robinson, M. S., Solomon, S. C., Denevi, B. W., André, S. L., & Head, J. W. (2009). Emplacement and tectonic deformation of smooth plains in the Caloris basin, Mercury. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 309–319. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.03.040

  • Watters, T. R., Solomon, S. C., Robinson, M. S., Head, J. W., André, S. L., Hauck, S. A., & Murchie, S. L. (2009). The tectonics of Mercury: The view after MESSENGER’s first flyby. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 285(3-4), 283–296. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.01.025

  • Zuber, M. T., Montési, L. G. J., Farmer, G. T., Hauck, S. A., Andreas Ritzer, J., Phillips, R. J., … Johnson, C. L. (2010). Accommodation of lithospheric shortening on Mercury from altimetric profiles of ridges and lobate scarps measured during MESSENGER flybys 1 and 2. Icarus, 209(1), 247–255. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.02.026

  • A.Cumming, R.P.Butler, G.W.Marcy, S.S.Vogt, J.T.Wright & D.A.Fischer.  (2008).  The Keck Planet Search: Detectability and the Minimum Mass and Orbital Period Distribution of Extrasolar Planets.  Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 120: 531.
  • Aarnio, A.N., Weinberger, A.J., Stassun, K.G., Mamajek, E.E. & James, D.J.  (2008).  A Survey for a Coeval, Comoving Group Associated with HD 141569.  The Astronomical Journal, 136: 2483-2492.
  • Alexander, C.M.O.D., Cody, G.D., Fogel, M.L. & Yabuta, H.  (2008).  Organics in meteorites- Solar or interstellar?  Organic Matter in Space, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, IAU Symposium, 251: 293-298.
  • Alexander, C.M.O.d.  (2009).  The Central Importance of Chondritic Organic Matter to Understanding the Origin of the Solar System and Maybe even Life.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 72: 5441.
  • Alexander, C.M.O.d., Newsome, S.N., Fogel, M.L. & Cody, G.D.  (2009).  Deuterium Enrichments — Parent Body Products or a Question of Preservation?  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 40: Abstract #2546.
  • B.E.McArthur, G.F.Benedict, R.Barnes, E.Martioli, D.A.Fischer, H.Isaacson, M.Giguere, S.Korzennik, E.Nelan & R.P.Butler.  (2009, Submitted).  Characterization of the Upsilon Andromedae System with Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and Hobby Eberly Telescope.  Astrophysical Journal.
  • Barnouin-Jha, O.S., Zuber, M.T., Oberst, J., Preusker, F., Smith, D.E., Neumann, G.A., Solomon, S.C., Hauck, S.A., Phillips, R.J., Head, J.W., Prockter, L.M. & Robinson, M.S.  (2009).  Assessing the relationship between crater depth and diameter on Mercury with topographic measurements by MESSENGER [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Baross, J.A. & Brazelton, W.J.  (2008).  Submarine hydrothermal vents: limits of life, biofilms and early evolution.  European Science Foundation, Complex Systems and Changes: Water and Life.  Taormina, Sicily, Italy.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Distant biosignatures: life on exoplanets.  AAAS Pacific Division Meeting.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Is there a relationship between “minimal life” and the origins and evolution of life?  Santa Fe Institute Origin of Life MEeting: “Minimal Life”.  National Science Foundation.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Submarine hydrothermal vents: limits of life, biofilms and early evolution.  Space Telescope Science Institute, May Symposium, The Search for Life in the Universe.  Baltimore, MD.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Submarine hydrothermal vents: limits of life, early evolution and the search for habitable planets.  Pontifical Academy of Sciences Study Week on Astrobiology, Casma Pio IV.  Vatican City.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  The Encyclopedia of Microbiology.  In: Lederberg, J. & Schaechter, M. (Eds.).  London: Elsevier.
  • Baross, J.A.  (2009).  The search for life in the universe: A new darwinian voyage.  NASA Lecture Series: Evolution of Biology, Technology, Science, and Exploration.  Mountain View, CA.
  • Baross, J.A.  (In prep).  Pressure and the origin of life.  In: Gargaud, M., Martin, H., Montmerle, T. & Lopez-Garcia, P. (Eds.).  Origin of Life: An Astrobiology Perspective.  Cambridge University Press.
  • Benning, L.G., Eigenbrode, J.L., Maule, J., Wainwright, N., Steele, A., Amundsen, H.E.F., Amase & Teams.  (2008).  Organic decontamination of sampling devices for life-detection studies.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Supplement, 72: 73.
  • Blewett , D.T., Robinson, M.S., Denevi, B.W., Murchie, S.L., Domingue, D.L., Izenberg, N.R., Sprague, A.L., McClintock, W.E., Holsclaw, G.M., Vilas, F., Gillis-Davis, J.J., Lawrence, D.J., Feldman, W.C., Evans, L.G., Rhodes, E.A. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  The iron content of Mercury’s surface: A review of the evidence.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.  Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Blewett, D.T., Kerber, L., Head, J.W., Denevi, B.W., Robinson, M.S., Murchie, S.L., Gillis-Davis, J.J. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Mercury pyroclastics: Color, morphology, and volatile content [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Blinova, A.I., Herd, C.D.K., Zega, T., De Gregorio, B. & Stroud, R.M.  (2009).  Preliminary SEM and TEM study of pristine samples of Tagish Lake meteorite.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XL.
  • Boctor, N.Z., Wang, J., Alexander, C.M.O.d., Steele, A. & Armstrong, J.  (2009).  Hydrogen Isotope Signatures and Water Abundances in Nominally Anhydrous Minerals from the Olivine-Phyric Shergottite LAR 06319.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 72: 5176.
  • Boss, A.P. & Wetherill, G.W.  (2009, In Press).  Physicist, Geochemist, Planetary Scientist, and Astrobiologist [Book Chapter].  Highlights of Astronomy.  XXVII General Assembly, Cambridge University Press.
  • Boss, A.P. & et al.  (2008).  Bioastronomy [Book Chapter].  IAU Transactions Commission 51.  Vol. XXVII A.  Cambridge University Press.
  • Boss, A.P.  (2008).  Extrasolar Planets: Past, Present, and Future.  In: M. Livio, e. (Eds.).  A Decade of Extrasolar Planets Around Normal Stars.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Boss, A.P.  (2008).  Rapid Formation of Gas Giants, Ice Giants, and Super-Earths.  Physica Scripta (Volume 2008, T130).
  • Boss, A.P.  (2009).  Gradients in the Spatial Heterogeneity of the Short-Lived Radioisotopes 60Fe and 26Al and Stable Oxygen Isotopes in the Solar Nebula.  Supplement to Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 44: A37.
  • Boss, A.P.  (2009, In Press).  Proceedings of the Business Session of Commission 51: Bioastronomy.  In: Corbett, I.F. (Eds.).  IAU Transactions.  Vol. XXVII B.  Cambridge University Press.
  • Bower, D.M. & Steele, A.  (2009).  Investigations of the nature and provenance of mineral and carbonaceous material in fossiliferous cherts: revisiting the 1.9 Ga Gunflint Formation.  GSA Annual Meeting 2009.  Portland, OR.
  • Bower, D.M.  (2009).  Experimental investigations on the effects of diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism on the preservation of organic matter and formation of Fe-Ti-oxides (pseudorutile) in microfossils: using minerals as biosignatures in ancient rocks.
  • Bower, D.M.  (In prep).  A micro Raman study of the co-occurrence of muscovite, titanium oxides, and graphite in laminated sandstones of the 2.9 Ga Pongola Supergroup, South Africa.  Clays and Clay Minerals.
  • Brazelton, W.J. & Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Proto-cellular evolution, lateral gene transfer, syntrophic metabolisms, and archaeal biofilms of the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.  Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference.  Seattle, WA.
  • Brazelton, W.J., Ludwig, K., Sogin, M., Andreishcheva, E., Kelley, D., Shen, C-C., Edwards, R.L. & Baross, J.A.  (In Review).  Archaeal and bacterial communities with surprising microdiversity show shifts in dominance over 1000-year time scales at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.  Proceed. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • Brazelton, W.J., Ludwig, K.A., Sogin, M.L. & Baross, J.A.  (2009).  Dynamics of the rare biosphere in carbonate chimneys spanning a thousand years of the Lost City hydrothermal field.  ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting.  Nice, France.
  • Brazelton, W.J., Sogin, M. & Baross, J.A.  (In Press).  Multiple scales of diversification within a single population of archaea in a hydrothermal vent biofilm.  Environmental Microbiology Reports.
  • Busemann, H., Alexander, C.M.O.D., Nittler, L.R., Stroud, R.M., Zega, T.J., Cody, G.D., Yabuta, H. & Kilcoyne, A.L.D.  (2008).  Structural, chemical and isotopic examinations of interstellar organic matter extracted from meteorites and interstellar dust particles.  IAU Symposium.
  • Chapman, C.R., Solomon, S.C., McNutt, R.L., Anderson, B.J., Evans, L.G., Gold, R.E., Head, J.W., Krimigis, S.M., Murchie, S.L., Nittler, L.R., Phillips, R.J., Slavin, J.A., Zuber, M.T. & Team, M.  (2009).  Mercury after three MESSENGER flybys [Abstract].  Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 41: 1008.
  • Cleaves, H.J., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Sverjensky, D.A. & Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  Adsorption of nucleic acid components on rutile (TiO2) surfaces.  238th American Chemical Society National Meeting.  Washington, DC.
  • Cleaves, H.J., Sverjensky, D.A., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  Distinguishing multiple surface species of glutamate on hydrous ferric oxide.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Cody, G.D., Alexander, C.M.O.D., Kilcoyne, A.L.D. & Yabuta, H.  (2008).  Unravling the chemical history of the Solar System as recorded in extraterrestrial organic matter.  Organic Matter in Space, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, IAU Symposium, 251: 277-284.
  • Cody, G.D., Heying, E. & Alexander, C.M.O.D.  (2009).  A Post Accretionary Origin for Meteoritic and Cometary Organic Solids?  40th Lunar and Plantetary Science Conference.
  • Conrad, P.G., Fogel, M.L., Glamoclija, M., Kerr, L., Mogensen, C., Eigenbrode, J., Mahaffy, P.R. & Steele, A.  (2009).  Metrics for Habitability Assessment.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Conference Abstracts.
  • Courtin, R., Boss, A. & Mayor, M.  Planetary Systems as Potential Sites for Life, in Highlights of Astronomy.  In: Corbett, I.F. (Eds.).  XXVII General Assembly.  Cambridge University Press.
  • D’Amore, M., Helbert, J., Maturilli, A., Izenberg, N.R., Sprague, A.L., Holsclaw, G.M., Head III, J.W., McClintock, W.E. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Compositional units along the M1 and M2 MASCS ground track from a principal component analysis.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.  Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • D’Amore, M., Helbert, J., Maturilli, A., Izenberg, N.R., Sprague, A.L., Holsclaw, G.M., Head III, J.W., McClintock, W.E. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Compositional units along the M1 and M2 MASCS ground tracks from principal component and clustering analyses.  Europlanet Research Infrastructure, European Planetary Science Congress.  Potsdam, Germany.
  • De Gregorio, B.T., Stroud, R.M., Nittler, L.R. & Cody, G.D.  (2009).  Variety of organic matter in Stardust return samples from comet 81P/Wild 2.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XL.
  • Denevi, B.W., Robinson, M.S., Blewett, D.T., Domingue, D.L., Head, J.W., McCoy, T.J., McNutt, R.L., Murchie, S.L. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  MESSENGER global color observations: Implications for the composition and evolution of Mercury’s crust [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Denevi, B.W., Robinson, M.S., Solomon, S.C., Murchie, S.L., Blewett , D.T., Domingue, D.L., McCoy, T.J., Ernst, C.M., Head III, J.W., Watters, T.R. & Chabot, N.L.  (2009).  A global perspective from MESSENGER and Mariner 10 on the composition and evolution of Mercury’s crust.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.  Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Estrada, C.F., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Parikh, S.J., Sverjensky, D.A., Cleaves, H.J. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  Surface speciation of glutamate and aspartate on titanium dioxide.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Ewing, R.C., Hazen, R.M. & Sverjensky, D.A.  (2008).  Mineral evolution of uranium and thorium.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Freed, A.M., Solomon, S.C., Watters, T.R., Phillips, R.J. & Zuber, M.T.  (2009).  Could Pantheon Fossae be the result of the Apollodorus crater-forming impact within the Caloris basin, Mercury? [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Gillis-Davis, J.J., Blewett, D.T., Denevi, B.W., Robinson, M.S., Solomon, S.C., Strom, R.G. & Team, M.  (2009).  Pit-Floor Craters on Mercury: Characteristics and modes of formation [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Glamoclija, M., Fogel, M.L., Kish, A. & Steele, A.  (2009).  Nutrient and pigment signatures of microbial life from arid environment of White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.  GSA Annual Meeting 2009.  Portland, OR.
  • Goldman, A.D., Samudraia, R. & Baross, J.A.  (In Press).  Rapid evolution of protein synthesis following the RNA world.  Molecular Biology and Evolution.
  • Gómez-Pérez, N. & Wicht, J.  (2009).  Magnetic field at Mercury: Effects of external sources on planetary dynamos [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science.
  • Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  Chapter 10 – Mineral Surfaces, Geochemical Complexities, and the Origins of Life.  In: Deamer, D.W. & Szostak, J.W. (Eds.).  Origins of Cellular Life.  Cold Springs Harbor Perspectives.
  • Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  Emergence and the experimental pursuit of the origin of life.  In: Bertka, C.M. (Eds.).  Exploring the Origins, Extent, and Future of Life: Philosophical, Ethical, and Theological Perspectives.  New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  The geochemical origin of life.  In: Knoll, A.H., Canfield, D.E. & Konhauser, K.O. (Eds.).  A Geobiology Reader.
  • Hazen, R.M., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Cleaves, H.J. & Sverjensky, D.A.  (2009).  Molecule-mineral interactions and the origins of life.  238th American Chemical Society National Meeting.  Washington, DC.
  • Head, J.W., Solomon, S.C., McNutt, R.L., Blewett, D.T., Chapman, C.R., Domingue, D.L., Gillis-Davis, J.J., Hawkins, S.E., Helbert, J., Holsclaw, G.M., Izenberg, N.R., McClintock, W.E., Merline, W.J., Murchie, S.L., Phillips, R.J., Prockter, L.M., Robinson, M.S., Denevi, B.W., Sprague, A.L., Strom, R.G., Vilas, F., Watters, T.R. & Zuber, M.T.  (2009).  The MESSENGER mission to Mercury: New insights into geological processes and evolution from the first two encounters [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Helbert, J., D’Amore, M., Maturilli, A., Izenberg, N.R., Sprague, A.L., Holsclaw, G.M., Head, J.W., McClintock, W.E., Blewett, D.T. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Compositional units on Mercury along MESSENGER ground tracks from principal component analysis of spectral observations [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Herd, C.D.K., Nittler, L.R. & Alexander, C.M.O.D.  (2009).  Isotopically Heterogeneous Organic Matter in the Tagish Lake Meteorite.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XL, 40: Abstract #1818.
  • Hurry, V., Anderson, J.M., Soon Chow, W. & Osmond, C.B.  (1997).  Accumulation of zeaxanthin in abscisic acid-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis does not affect Chlorophyll fluorescence quenching or sensitivity to photoinhibition in vivo.  Plant Physiology, 113: 639-648.
  • Izenberg, N.R., McClintock, W.E., Holsclaw, G.M., Blewett , D.T., Domingue, D.L., Donaldson Hanna, K.L., Jensen, D.A., Kochte, M.C., Lankton, M.R., Sprague, A.L., Vilas, F., Solomon, S.C., Robinson, M.S. & Helbert, J.  (2009).  Resolved ultraviolet to infrared reflectance spectroscopy of Mercury from the first two MESSENGER flybys.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.  Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Izenberg, N.R., McClintock, W.E., Holsclaw, G.M., Blewett, D.T., Helbert, J., Solomon, S.C. & Team, M.  (2009).  Resolved ultraviolet to infrared reflectance spectroscopy of Mercury from the second MESSENGER flyby [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Johnson, C.L., Uno, H., Purucker, M.E., Anderson, B.J., Korth, H., Slavin, J.A. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Mercury’s magnetic field: Assessing the effects of external fields on internal field models [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Jones, H.R.A., Butler, R.P., Tinney, C.G., O’Toole, S., Wittenmyer, R., Vogt, S.S., Rivera, E., Laughlin, G., Meschiari, S., Carter, B.D., Bailey, J., Jenkins, J.S. & Henry, G.  (2009, Submitted).  A Jupiter-like Planet Orbiting a Nearby Sun-like Star.  Monthy Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
  • Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Parikh, S.J., Sverjensky, D.A., Cleaves, H.J. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  Surface speciation of glutamate and aspartate on titanium dioxide.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Sverjensky, D.A. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  The adsorption of aspartic acid on rutile: implications for biochirality.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Sverjensky, D.A., Cleaves, H.J. & Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  Surface speciation of aspartate and glutamate on titanium dioxide.  237th American Chemical Society National Meeting.  Salt Lake City.
  • Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Sverjensky, D.A., Cleaves, H.J. & Hazen, R.M.  (2009).  Surface speciation of glutamate and aspartate on rutile as a function of environmental conditions.  238th American Chemical Society National Meeting.  Washington, DC.
  • Killen, R.M., Bida, T.A., Potter, A.E., McClintock, W.E., Bradley, E.T., Vervack, R.J., Anderson, C.M., Morgan, T.H., Sprague, A.L. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Metallic Species in Mercury’s Exosphere Observed by MESSENGER, the Keck I and McMath-Pierce Telescopes.  Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 41: 1134.
  • Lawrence, D.J., Feldman, W.C., Goldsten, J.O. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Identification of neutron absorbing elements on Mercury’s surface using MESSENGER neutron data [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • M.Lopez-Morales, R.P.Butler, D.A.Fischer, D.Minniti, S.A.Shectman, G.Takeda, F.C.Adams & P.Arriagada.  (2008).  Two Jupiter Mass Planets Orbiting HD 154672 and HD 205739.  Astronomical Journal, 136: 1901.
  • Martin, W.J., Baross, J., Kelley, D. & Russell, M.J.  (2008).  Hydrothermal vents and the origin of life.  Nature Reviews Microbiology, 6: 805-814.
  • Mayor, M., Boss, A.P. & et al.  (2008).  Commission 53: Extrasolar Planets.  In: Van Der Hucht, K. (Eds.).  IAU Transactions.  Vol. XXVII A.  Cambridge University Press.
  • Mine, A.H., Papineau, D., Fogel, M.L., Steele, A. & Mueller, W.  (2008).  Tracing the origin of carbonaceous matter and apatite in Neoarchean banded iron formations from Abitibi.  AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 51: 1389.
  • Nittler, L.R., Alexander, C.M.O.D., Cody, G.D., De Gregorio, B.T., Kilcoyne, A.L.D., Stroud, R.M. & Tiwari, A.  (2009).  Micro-scale characteristics of insoluble organic matter In chondrites: A coordinated TEM, STXM, and SIMS study.  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 40: Abstract #1145.
  • Opatkiewiez, A.D., Butterfield, D.A. & Baross, J.A.  (2008).  Isolation and stability of distinct subsurface microbial communities associated with two hydrothermal vent systems.  AGU Fall Meeting.
  • Papineau, D. & Purohit, R.  (2009).  Paleoproterozoic blooms of oxygenic photosynthesis stimulated by high phosphate delivery in the Lower Aravalli Group.  IGCP 509 conference on Paleoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution.  Kolkata, India.
  • Preusker, F., Oberst, J., Phillips, R.J., Watters, T.R., Head III, J.W., Zuber, M.T. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Digital terrain models from MESSENGER stereo images [Abstract].  Results from Current Missions, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Working Group IV/7, Planetary Mapping and Databases.  Berlin, Germany.
  • Prockter, L.M., Barnouin-Jha, O., Solomon, S.C., Chapman, C.R., Denevi, B.W., Head III, J.W., Watters, T.R., Blewett , D.T. & Gillis-Davis, J.  (2009).  Mercury’s Raditladi basin: A puzzling example of extensional tectonics in an unusually young impact feature.  Europlanet Infrastructure, European Planetary Science Congress.  Potsdam, Germany.
  • Prockter, L.M., Barnouin-Jha, O., Solomon, S.C., Head III, J.W., Fassett, C.I., Watters, T.R., Murchie, S.L., Robinson, M.S., Chapman, C.R., Strom, R.G. & McNutt, J.,.R.L.  (2009).  Impact cratering on mercury: Historical pespective and new views from MESSENGER.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.  Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Prockter, L.M., Watters, T.R., Chapman, C.R., Denevi, B.W., Head, J.W., Solomon, S.C., Murchie, S.L., Barnouin-Jha, O.S., Robinson, M.S., Blewett, D.T. & Gillis-Davis, J.  (2009).  The curious case of Raditladi basin [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Purucker, M.E., Johnson, C.L., Anderson, B.J., Korth, H., Uno, H., Blewett, D.T., Sabaka, T.J., Solomon, S.C. & Head, J.W.  (2009).  Mercury’s internal magnetic field from MESSENGER [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Ruedas, T., Tackley, P.J. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  Water, melting, and convection in the Martian mantle [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Sarrazin, P., Brunner, W., Blake, D., Gailhanou, M., Bish, D.L., Vaniman, D.T., Chipera, S.J., Ming, D.W., Steele, A., Midtkandal, I., Amundsen, H. & Peterson, R.  (2008).  Field Studies of Mars Analog Materials Using a Portable XRD/XRF Instrument.  Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Conference Abstracts.
  • Schrenk, M.O., Holden, J.F. & Baross, J.A.  (2008).  Magma to microbe networks in the context of sulfide hosted microbial ecosystems.  In: Lowell, R.P., Seewald, J.S., Metaxas, A. & Perfit, M.R. (Eds.).  Magma to Microbe, Modeling Hydrothermal Processes at Oceanic SPreading Centers.  Vol. 178.  Washington, D.C: American Geophysical Union.
  • Sheppard, S. & Trujillo, C.  (2006).  Science, 333: 511.
  • Sheppard, S.S.  (2009).  The colors of inner Oort cloud, extended/detached disk and retrograde outer solar system objects.  AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts.
  • Smith, D.E., Zuber, M.T., Phillips, R.J., Solomon, S.C., Lemoine, F.G., Neumann, G.A., Head, J.W. & Torrence, M.H.  (2009).  Does Mercury have lunar-like mascons? [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Solomon, S.C., Freed, A.M., Hauck, S.A., Head, J.W., Kerber, L., Phillips, R.J., Robinson, M.S., Watters, T.R. & Zuber, M.T.  (2009).  MESSENGER’s newly global perspective on Mercury: Some implications for interior evolution [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Solomon, S.C., McClintock, W.E., Anderson, B.J., Domingue, D.L., Evans, L.G., Gold, R.E., Head III, J.W., Krimigis, S.M., Murchie, S.L., Nittler, L.R., Phillips, R.J., Slavin, J.A. & Zuber, M.T.  (2009).  MESSENGER’s first and second flybys of Mercury: A scientific overview.  Europlanet Infrastructure, European Planetary Science Congress.  Potsdam, Germany.
  • Solomon, S.C., McNutt, J.,.R.L., Anderson, B.J., Domingue, D.L., Evans, L.G., Gold, R.E., Head III, J.W., Krimigis, S.M., Murchie, S.L., Nittler, L.R., Phillips, R.J., Slavin, J.A., Zuber, M.T. & Team, t.M.  (2009).  MESSENGER’s first and secondflybys of Mercury: A Scientific overview.  Programme with Abstracts, The Surface Composition of Mercury from Ultraviolet-Visible-Infrared Spetroscopy: State of the Art and Future Strategies.
  • Stroud, R.M., Alexander, C.M.O.D., Cody, G.D., Gregorio, B.T., Kilcoyne, A.L.D., Nittler, L.R. & Zega, T.J.  (2009).  Correlated microanalysis of carbonaceous nanoglobules.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 72: Abstract #5332.
  • Sverjensky, D.A. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  MoS2 and ReS2 stabilities as indicators of oxidation state on the early Earth.  American Geophysical Union National Meeting.  San Francisco.
  • Sverjensky, D.A., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Cleaves, H.J. & Hazen, R.M.  (2008).  Glutamate surface speciation on amorphous titanium dioxide and hydrous ferric oxide.  Environmental Science & Technology, 42: 6034-6039.
  • Sverjensky, D.A., Jonsson, C.M., Jonsson, C.L., Hazen, R.M. & Cleaves, H.J.  (2009).  Surface complexation models of glutamate and aspartate on rutile.  238th American Chemical Society National Meeting.  Washington, DC.
  • Watters, T.R., Murchie, S.L., Robinson, M.S., Head, J.W., Chapman, C.R., Solomon, S.C., Denevi, B.W., André, S.L., Fassett, C.I. & Team, M.  (2009).  A newly discovered impact basin on Mercury revealed by MESSENGER [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Westphal, A. & et al.  (2009).  Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination (ISPE).  40th Lunar and Plantetary Science Conference.
  • Yabuta, H., Cody, G.D. & Alexander, C.M.O.D.  (2009).  Organic Molecular Indicators of Aqueous Alteration: Extensive Pyrolysis Survey of CM, CI, CR, and Tagish Lake Chondrites.  Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Supplement: 5152.
  • Zuber, M.T., Farmer, G.T., Hauck, S.A., Ritzer, J.A., Phillips, R.J., Solomon, S.C., Smith, D.E., Head, J.W., Neumann, G.A., Robinson, M.S., Watters, T.R., Johnson, C.L., Oberst, J., Barnouin-Jha, O. & McNutt, R.L.  (2009).  Observations of ridges and lobate scarps on Mercury from MESSENGER altimetry and imaging and implications for lithospheric strain accommodation [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
  • Zuber, M.T., Smith, D.E., Phillips, R.J., Solomon, S.C. & Oberst, J.  (2009).  The equatorial shape, topography, and gravity of Mercury from the MESSENGER flybys of 2008.  Europlanet Infrastructure, European Planetary Science Congress.  Potsdam, Germany.
  • Zurbuchen, T.H., Raines, J.M., Gloeckler, G., Slavin, J.A., Krimigis, S.M., Killen, R.M., Sprague, A.L., McNutt, R.L. & Solomon, S.C.  (2009).  First ion plasma measurements in the Mercury magnetosphere [Abstract].  40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.