Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments
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Geobiology of the Late Paleoproterozoic Duck Creek Formation, Western Australia
Precambrian Research 179 (2010) 135–149 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Precambrian Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/precamres Geobiology of the late Paleoproterozoic Duck Creek Formation, Western Australia Jonathan P. Wilson a,b,∗, Woodward W. Fischer b, David T. Johnston a, Andrew H. Knoll c, John P. Grotzinger b, Malcolm R. Walter e, Neal J. McNaughton i, Mel Simon d, John Abelson d, Daniel P. Schrag a, Roger Summons f, Abigail Allwood g, Miriam Andres h, Crystal Gammon b, Jessica Garvin j, Sky Rashby b, Maia Schweizer b, Wesley A. Watters f a Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, USA b Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA c Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA d The Agouron Institute, USA e Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Australia f Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA g Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA h Chevron Corp., USA i Curtin University of Technology, Australia j University of Washington, USA article info abstract Article history: The ca. 1.8 Ga Duck Creek Formation, Western Australia, preserves 1000 m of carbonates and minor Received 25 August 2009 iron formation that accumulated along a late Paleoproterozoic ocean margin. Two upward-deepening Received in revised form 12 February 2010 stratigraphic packages are preserved, each characterized by peritidal precipitates at the base and iron Accepted 15 February 2010 formation and carbonate turbidites in its upper part. Consistent with recent studies of Neoarchean basins, carbon isotope ratios of Duck Creek carbonates show no evidence for a strong isotopic depth gradient, but carbonate minerals in iron formations can be markedly depleted in 13C. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Digital Converters
Jet JUNE Propulsion 2014 Laboratory VOLUME 43 NUMBER 6 JPL 2025 What will JPL be like in 2025? What kind of missions will it be building and flying? How different will the lab be from the JPL of today? Those were the questions on the minds of Executive Council members in early May when they held their annual planning retreat. Over three days they laid out the broad strokes of strategies to make each of the lab’s major program areas robust a decade or more from now. “JPL is currently in good shape, but to remain that way we have to focus on where we are going across the next decade,” JPL Director Charles Elachi said follow- ing the off-site meeting. Among the strategies planned for JPL’s major units, in coming years the Solar System Exploration Director- ate hopes to create missions across a broad spectrum of scales—from flagships to miniature spacecraft. One major focus is to explore the ocean worlds in the outer solar system. The first step for this goal is to continue the development of what is hoped will be the next outer planet mission, Europa Clipper. Thanks to the power of NASA’s new Space Launch System, missions to the outer planets may become more frequent. JPL would also like to execute the first interplanetary mission using a pair of miniature cube- sat spacecraft. The Asteroid Redirect Mission in which JPL has a key role may serve as a model for future Clockwise: 1) Europa Clipper; 2) Mars; 3) Mars Sample Return lander; 4) solar system; 5) Earth satellites; 6) the pulsar planets PSR B1257+12 b, c, and d; 7) spiral closer collaborations with other NASA centers. -
Yellowstone Hot Springs Are Organic Chemodiversity Hot Spots Michael Gonsior1, Norbert Hertkorn2, Nancy Hinman3, Sabine E.-M
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Yellowstone Hot Springs are Organic Chemodiversity Hot Spots Michael Gonsior1, Norbert Hertkorn2, Nancy Hinman3, Sabine E.-M. Dvorski2, Mourad Harir2, William J. Cooper4 & Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin2,5 Received: 5 June 2018 Yellowstone National Park hydrothermal springs were investigated according to their organic Accepted: 11 September 2018 geochemistry with a special focus on the Yellowstone hot spring dissolved organic matter (YDOM) Published: xx xx xxxx that was solid-phase extracted. Here we show that YDOM has a unique chemodiversity that has not yet been observed anywhere else in aquatic surface environments and that Yellowstone hot springs are organic chemodiversity hot spots. Four main geochemically classifed hot spring types (alkaline- chloride, mixed alkaline-chloride, acid-chloride-sulfate and travertine-precipitating) exhibited distinct organic molecular signatures that correlated remarkably well with the known inorganic geochemistry and manifested themselves in excitation emission matrix fuorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultrahigh resolution mass spectra. YDOM contained thousands of molecular formulas unique to Yellowstone of which 80% contained sulfur, even in low hydrogen sulfde containing alkaline-chloride springs. This unique YDOM refects the extreme organic geochemistry present in the hydrothermal features of Yellowstone National Park. Physical, chemical, and biological processes control the evolution of minerals and dissolved organic mat- ter (DOM) over a vast range of mass, length, and time1. Indeed, mutual interferences and interactions among these processes presumably have defned chemical and biological evolution throughout Earth history. Modern terrestrial biology operates largely within limited temperature, pH, and redox conditions. In contrast, extreme environments, such as hot springs, have wide ranges of physicochemical parameters, generally believed to be similar to environments found on early Earth2. -
Mars 2020 Mission and NASA’S Mars Exploration Program, Visit: Mars.Nasa.Gov/Mars2020 September 2019 NASA Facts
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars 2020 Over the past two decades, missions flown to benefit future robotic and human exploration by NASA’s Mars Exploration Program have of Mars. shown us that Mars was once very different from the cold, dry planet it is today. Evidence Key Objectives discovered by landed and orbital missions point • Explore a geologically diverse landing site to wet conditions billions of years ago. These environments lasted long enough to potentially • Assess ancient habitability support the development of microbial life. • Seek signs of ancient life, particularly in special rocks known to preserve signs of life over time The Mars 2020 rover is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of • Gather rock and soil samples that could be ancient life. The mission will collect and store a set returned to Earth by a future NASA mission of rock and soil samples that could be returned to • Demonstrate technology for future robotic and Earth in the future. It will also test new technology human exploration Mission Timeline Key Hardware • Launch in July-August 2020 from Cape The rover will carry seven instruments to conduct Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida unprecedented science and test new technology • Launching on a ULA Atlas 541 procured under on the Red Planet. They are: NASA’s Launch Services Program • Mastcam-Z, an advanced camera system with • Land on Mars on February 18, 2021 at the panoramic and stereoscopic imaging capability site of an ancient river delta in a lake that once with the ability to zoom. The instrument also filled Jezero Crater will determine mineralogy of the Martian surface and assist with rover operations. -
NASA Astrobiology Institute 2018 Annual Science Report
A National Aeronautics and Space Administration 2018 Annual Science Report Table of Contents 2018 at the NAI 1 NAI 2018 Teams 2 2018 Team Reports The Evolution of Prebiotic Chemical Complexity and the Organic Inventory 6 of Protoplanetary Disk and Primordial Planets Lead Institution: NASA Ames Research Center Reliving the Past: Experimental Evolution of Major Transitions 18 Lead Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology Origin and Evolution of Organics and Water in Planetary Systems 34 Lead Institution: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Icy Worlds: Astrobiology at the Water-Rock Interface and Beyond 46 Lead Institution: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Habitability of Hydrocarbon Worlds: Titan and Beyond 60 Lead Institution: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Origins of Molecules in Diverse Space and Planetary Environments 72 and Their Intramolecular Isotope Signatures Lead Institution: Pennsylvania State University ENIGMA: Evolution of Nanomachines in Geospheres and Microbial Ancestors 80 Lead Institution: Rutgers University Changing Planetary Environments and the Fingerprints of Life 88 Lead Institution: SETI Institute Alternative Earths 100 Lead Institution: University of California, Riverside Rock Powered Life 120 Lead Institution: University of Colorado Boulder NASA Astrobiology Institute iii Annual Report 2018 2018 at the NAI In 2018, the NASA Astrobiology Program announced a plan to transition to a new structure of Research Coordination Networks, RCNs, and simultaneously planned the termination of the NASA Astrobiology Institute -
PIXL Seminar, Nov 2015 Why Micro XRF?
Silicon drift detector response function to hard x-rays (with an introduction on quantitative MicroXRF And the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry) Nicolas Michel-Hart with special thanks to Tim Elam for project guidance Applied Physics Laboratory – University of Washington X-ray Fluorescence and μXRF http://in.niton.com/en/ https://xos.com/technologies/xrf/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_fluorescence#/media/File:XRFScan.jpg Elam, PIXL Seminar, Nov 2015 Why Micro XRF? Biosignatures (ooids) hosted in a 2.7 billion-year-old carbonate rock Elam, PIXL Seminar, Nov 2015 Some pixels can be very different Area of element maps Visible light image Recent microbialite from the Death Valley Area Elam, PIXL Seminar, Nov 2015 Mars 2020 Mission • M2020 Science Objectives – Habitability: Characterize the geologic record for astrobiologically relevant environments and geologic diversity – Biosignatures: Search for materials with high biosignature preservation potential – Sample Caching: Obtain a pristine set of geologically diverse samples and cache for future return to Earth – Prepare for Humans: Demonstrate in situ resource utilization technologies and characterize dust size and morphology • Mission life: 1.5 Mars years/1005 Martian days • Flight Instruments delivered by Fall 2018, Launch July 2020, Land February 2021 • Instrument Complement: – Mastcam-Z and Supercam for panoramic/stereo imaging and chemical analysis – MEDA for weather – RIMFAX ground penetrating radar – MOXIE technology experiment to produce Oxygen from CO2 – SHERLOC -
Knowing Yellowstone
Knowing Yellowstone Science in America’s First National Park Jerry Johnson, Editor Cover Photo: A Storm Ripping Through the Valley, Trey Ratcliff DESIGN/LAYOUT/PRODUCTION – Monica Chodkiewicz ISBN 978-1-58979-522-8 Published by Taylor Trade Publishing An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706 http://www.rlpgtrade.com Estover Road, Plymouth PL6 7PY, United Kingdom Distributed by National Book Network Copyright © 2010 by Jerry Johnson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America Knowing Yellowstone Science in America’s First National Park Jerry Johnson, Editor iv Knowing Yellowstone: Science in America’s First National Park Acknowledgments: Many people are involved in the evolution and eventual publication of a book. The authors of the chapters that follow willingly took time from busy field seasons and research programs to deliver their highly technical work in a format accessible to those who are not immersed in the world of doing science. I thank them for their good work. Several individuals supported this project from the start. -
The Detection of Long-Chain Bio-Markers Using Atomic Force Microscopy
applied sciences Article The Detection of Long-Chain Bio-Markers Using Atomic Force Microscopy Mark S. Anderson Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-818-354-3278 Received: 15 February 2019; Accepted: 22 March 2019; Published: 27 March 2019 Abstract: The detection of long-chain biomolecules on mineral surfaces is presented using an atomic force microscope (AFM). This is achieved by using the AFM’s ability to manipulate molecules and measure forces at the pico-newton scale. We show that a highly characteristic force-distance signal is produced when the AFM tip is used to detach long-chain molecules from a surface. This AFM force spectroscopy method is demonstrated on bio-films, spores, fossils and mineral surfaces. The method works with AFM imaging and correlated tip enhanced infrared spectroscopy. The use of AFM force spectroscopy to detect this class of long chain bio-markers has applications in paleontology, life detection and planetary science. Keywords: long-chain bio-markers 2; AFM 3; tip enhanced spectroscopy 1. Introduction Scanning probe microscopes are fundamental tools in microscopy and nanotechnology. The most widely utilized of the probe microscopes is the atomic force microscope (AFM) that was first described in 1986 by Binnig, Gerber and Quate [1]. With an AFM, a tip mounted on a micro-fabricated cantilever is scanned over the surface and the interaction between the tip and the substrate is detected by monitoring the deflection of the cantilever [2]. These microscopes are remarkable for their ability to image individual atoms or molecules. -
NASA Announces Mars 2020 Rover Payload to Explore the Red Planet As Never Before - 2020 Mission Plans
mars.jpl.nasa.gov NASA Announces Mars 2020 Rover Payload to Explore the Red Planet as Never Before - 2020 Mission Plans 5 min read• original Payload for NASA's Mars 2020 Rover This diagram shows the science instruments for NASA's Mars 2020 rover mission. Credit: NASA Planning for NASA's 2020 Mars rover envisions a basic structure that capitalizes on the design and engineering work done for the NASA rover Curiosity, which landed on Mars in 2012, but with new science instruments selected through competition for accomplishing different science objectives. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The next rover NASA will send to Mars in 2020 will carry seven carefully-selected instruments to conduct unprecedented science and exploration technology investigations on the Red Planet. NASA announced the selected Mars 2020 rover instruments Thursday at the agency's headquarters in Washington. Managers made the selections out of 58 proposals received in January from researchers and engineers worldwide. Proposals received were twice the usual number submitted for instrument competitions in the recent past. This is an indicator of the extraordinary interest by the science community in the exploration of the Mars. The selected proposals have a total value of approximately $130 million for development of the instruments. The Mars 2020 mission will be based on the design of the highly successful Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, which landed almost two years ago, and currently is operating on Mars. The new rover will carry more sophisticated, upgraded hardware and new instruments to conduct geological assessments of the rover's landing site, determine the potential habitability of the environment, and directly search for signs of ancient Martian life. -
Smart Cameras for Remote Science Survey
SMART CAMERAS FOR REMOTE SCIENCE SURVEY David R. Thompson (1), William Abbey(1), Abigail Allwood(1), Dmitriy Bekker(1), Benjamin Bornstein(1) Nathalie A. Cabrol(2), Rebecca Castaño(1), Tara Estlin(1), Thomas Fuchs(3), Kiri L. Wagstaff(1) (1) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA 91109, USA, [email protected] (2) SETI Institute, 189 Bernardo Ave, Suite 100, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. [email protected] (3) California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd, MC 136-93, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. [email protected] ABSTRACT To this end, onboard science understanding can play an important role in fully utilizing each command cycle Communication with remote exploration spacecraft is and preventing wasted observation opportunities. often intermittent and bandwidth is highly constrained. Onboard data understanding can benefit science return Future missions could use onboard science data by summarizing terrain encountered during travel and understanding to prioritize downlink of critical features directing autonomous instrument deployment to targets [1], draft summary maps of visited terrain [2], or of opportunity. Recent innovations such as the AEGIS identify targets of opportunity for followup system have demonstrated the ability to discover measurements [3]. We describe a generic approach to science features of interest in images and automatically classify geologic surfaces for autonomous science perform targeting for followup observations [3]. operations, suitable for parallelized implementations in However, most mission concepts do not utilize onboard FPGA hardware. We map these surfaces with texture science analysis and many relevant features can pass channels - distinctive numerical signatures that undetected [11]. -
Diverse Microstructures from Archaean Chert from the Mount
Precambrian Research 158 (2007) 228–262 Diverse microstructures from Archaean chert from the Mount Goldsworthy–Mount Grant area, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia: Microfossils, dubiofossils, or pseudofossils? Kenichiro Sugitani a,∗, Kathleen Grey b,c, Abigail Allwood c,1, Tsutomu Nagaoka d, Koichi Mimura e, Masayo Minami f, Craig P. Marshall c,g, Martin J. Van Kranendonk b,c, Malcolm R. Walter c a Department of Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan b Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Industry and Resources, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia c Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia d School of Informatics and Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan e Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan f Nagoya University Center for Chronological Research, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan g School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Received 7 February 2007; received in revised form 16 March 2007; accepted 16 March 2007 Abstract A diverse assemblage of indigenous carbonaceous microstructures, classified here as highly probable microfossils to pseudomi- crofossils, is present in the >ca. 2.97 Ga Farrel Quartzite (Gorge Creek Group) at Mount Grant and Mount Goldsworthy, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. The microstructures are an integral part of the primary sedimentary fabrics preserved in black chert beds. The interbedding of chert with layers of large silicified crystal pseudomorphs and fine to coarse grained volcaniclastic/clastic beds indicate deposition in a partially evaporitic basin with terrigenous clastic and volcaniclastic input. -
Old Faithful Area
Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area OLD FAITHFUL AREA MAP Page 1 of 25 Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area Old Faithful to Madison Road Map Page 2 of 25 Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area Old Faithful to Grant Village Interactive Road Map Page 3 of 25 Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area Old Faithful Area Tour - North Page 4 of 25 Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area Old Faithful Area Tour - South Page 5 of 25 Yellowstone – Old Faithful Area Old Faithful Area Tour Introduction The largest concentration of geysers in the world is in the Upper Geyser Basin. Several of the more prominent geysers and hot springs are included on this tour with information concerning their eruption patterns, names, and relationships with other geothermal features. Upper Geyser Basin - South Section: Old Faithful Geyser Old Faithful erupts more frequently than any of the other big geysers, although it is not the largest or most regular geyser in the park. Its average interval between eruptions is about 91 minutes, varying from 65 - 92 minutes. An eruption lasts 1 1/2 to 5 minutes, expels 3,700 - 8,400 gallons (14,000 - 32,000 liters) of boiling water, and reaches heights of 106 - 184 feet (30 - 55m). It was named for its consistent performance by members of the Washburn Expedition in 1870. Although its average interval has lengthened through the years (due to earthquakes and vandalism), Old Faithful is still as spectacular and predictable as it was a century ago. The largest active geyser in the world is Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin. Giantess Geyser Infrequent but violent eruptions characterize Giantess Geyser.