Possible complex organic compounds on Mars

Kobayashi, Kensei; Sato, Takako; Kajishima, S; Kaneko, Takeo; Ishikawa, Yoshinori; Saito, Takeshi

doi:10.1016/s0273-1177(97)00355-4

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Organic compounds may have formed at the surface of Mars in situ. Such endogenous production of organics is thought to represent an important source of organic compounds on the early Earth, and the mechanisms of formation include inputs into the planetary atmosphere by spark discharges (Miller, 1953), shock waves (Bar-Nun et al, 1970), ultraviolet light (Sagan and Khare, 1971) and high energy particles emulating cosmic rays (Kobayashi et al, 1997(Kobayashi et al, , 2001. As demonstrated by Miller (1953), a spark discharge applied to a highly reducing atmosphere led to the production of amino acids.…”

Section: Organic Electron Donorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plausible microbial metabolisms on Mars

Nixon

Cousins

Cockell

2013

Astronomy & Geophysics

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Port Mulgrave shale, and Mark Sephton and Wren Montgomery (Imperial College) provided the characterised kerogen samples used in growth experiments. The latter also conducted the pyrolysis GC-MS analysis on all bulk carbonaceous materials. I am greatly indebted to all members of the Astrobiology research group at Edinburgh, which I have seen grow to the group of varied expertise it is now since the move from the Open University. In particular I wish to thank Mark Fox-Powell for his advice on molecular techniques, and Susana Dereito for her guidance in DGGE analysis. I would also like to thank Casey Bryce,

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Section: Organic Electron Donorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plausible microbial metabolisms on Mars

Nixon

Cousins

Cockell

2013

Astronomy & Geophysics

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“…The amino acid precursors formed in the CO 2 -CO-N 2 -H 2 O-type gas mixtures were not simple molecules, such as aminonitriles. They were complex molecules with large molecular weights larger than hundreds (Kobayashi et al 1997). Organic compounds would have been altered during long-term preservation in Mars environments.…”

Section: Possible Organic Compounds Formed On Primitive Marsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extraterrestrial Life Signature Detection Microscopy: Search and Analysis of Cells and Organics on Mars and Other Solar System Bodies

et al. 2022

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This paper presents a review of the space exploration for life signature search with a special focus on the fluorescence microscope we developed for the life signature search on Mars and in other sites. Considering where, what, and how to search for life signature is essential. Life signature search exploration can be performed on the Mars surface and underground, on Venus’ cloud, moon, asteroids, icy bodies (e.g., moons of Jupiter and Saturn), and so on. It is a useful strategy to consider the targeted characteristics that may be similar to those of terrestrial microorganisms, which are microorganisms with uniform spherical or rod structures with approximately 1 μm diameter surrounded by a membrane having a metabolic activity and mainly made of carbon-based molecules. These characteristics can be analyzed by using a fluorescence microscope and a combination of fluorescence pigments with specific staining characteristics to distinguish the microorganism characteristics. Section 1 introduces the space exploration for life signature search. Section 2 reviews the scientific instruments and achievements of past and ongoing Mars exploration missions closely related to astrobiology. Section 3 presents the search targets and analysis of astrobiology. Section 4 discusses the extraterrestrial life exploration methods that use a microscope together with other methods (based on mass spectrometry, morphology, detection of growth, movement, and death, etc. for microscopic and macroscopic organism). Section 5 expounds on the life signature detection fluorescence microscope, for which we have manufactured a bread board model and tested for extraterrestrial life exploration.

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“…Yield of organics can be calculated based on laboratory experiments studying organics production from proton irradiation in ice mixtures and Mars-analog conditions. Kobayashi et al irradiated a mixture of CO 2 , CO, N 2 and H 2 O and studied the formation of amino acid precursors, formaldehyde and HCN 24 . Amino acids were formed after hydrolysis of radiolytic products.…”

Section: Subsurface Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the biological potential of galactic cosmic ray-induced radiation-driven chemical disequilibrium in the Martian subsurface environment

Atri¹

2020

Sci Rep

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There is growing evidence suggesting the presence of aqueous environment on ancient Mars, raising the question of the possibility of life in such an environment. Subsequently, with the erosion of the Martian atmosphere resulting in drastic changes in its climate, surface water disappeared, shrinking habitable spaces on the planet, with only a limited amount of water remaining near the surface in form of brines and water–ice deposits. Life, if it ever existed, would have had to adapt to harsh modern conditions, which includes low temperatures and surface pressure, and high radiation dose. Presently, there is no evidence of any biological activity on the planet’s surface, however, the subsurface environment, which is yet to be explored, is less harsh, has traces of water in form of water–ice and brines, and undergoes radiation-driven redox chemistry. I hypothesize that Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR)-induced radiation-driven chemical disequilibrium can be used for metabolic energy by extant life, and host organisms using mechanisms seen in similar chemical and radiation environments on Earth. I propose a GCR-induced radiolytic zone, and discuss the prospects of finding such life with Rosalind Franklin rover of the ExoMars mission.

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Possible complex organic compounds on Mars

Cited by 13 publications

References 29 publications

Plausible microbial metabolisms on Mars

Plausible microbial metabolisms on Mars

Extraterrestrial Life Signature Detection Microscopy: Search and Analysis of Cells and Organics on Mars and Other Solar System Bodies

Investigating the biological potential of galactic cosmic ray-induced radiation-driven chemical disequilibrium in the Martian subsurface environment

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