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November 30, 2006
Mineral Surfaces and Life
Robert Hazen, from NAI's Carnegie Institution of Washington Team, published his 2005 Presidential Address to the Mineralogical Society of America in this month's American Mineralogist.
The address reviews the role of mineral surfaces on the self-assembly of lipids, the polymerization of amino acids and nucleic acids, and the selective adsorption of organic species, including chiral molecules, onto mineral surfaces. [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 29, 2006
Astrobiology News 29 November 2006
Oxygen and Life in the Precambrian
The December 2006 issue of Geobiology is a collection of papers focusing on the history of Earth's biogeochemistry, from the earliest sedimentary rocks in Greenland to the late Proterozoic. The rise of atmospheric oxygen provides a thematic link.
The papers in this issue, edited by David Catling and Roger Buick of NAI's University of Washington Alumni Team, grew out of a session of the Earth System Processes 2 conference in Calgary, Canada, 8–11 August 2005, sponsored by the NAI. [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 28, 2006
Astrobiology News 28 November 2006
2006 Annual Report Goes Live
The NAI is excited to announce the release of this year's NAI Annual Report. It can be viewed on the NAI website by navigating to the "Teams" section and selecting any team.
Each team's page includes an Executive Summary, research project reports, list of publications, Members list, Education and Public Outreach (EPO) reports, NASA Mission involvement, field work descriptions, and reports from the NAI Postdoctoral Fellows (NASA Postdoctoral Program / ORAU)
To access all this and other information about the NAI go to http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/team/index.cfm [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 27, 2006
Astrobiology News 27 November 2006
NAI Researchers to Recreate Conditions of the Early Earth
NAI has approved funding for the development of a new, state-of-the-art facility capable of recreating past atmospheric and oceanic conditions, to be called VAL, the Variable Atmospheres Laboratory. Capable of simulating various combinations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature, and hydrogen sulfide levels, this facility will be able to test new hypotheses for the cause of some of the Earth's major mass extinction events - such as the Permian and Triassic mass extinctions.
The VAL will be constructed in the laboratory of researchers at the University of Washington, through the NAI University of Arizona Team. Leveraging forces with a new faculty hire at the University of Washington, this facility will address multiple questions about the early evolution of life on Earth, how life interacted with the changing planetary atmosphere, and how it was affected by cataclysmic impacts from space. These questions of the history of life on Earth are fundamental to astrobiology - addressing life as a planetary phenomenon. [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 26, 2006
New Book on the Neoproterozoic
Scientists from NAI's Penn State Team have contributed to a new book entitled "Neoproterozoic Geobiology and Paleobiology," Xiao, Shuhai; Kaufman, Alan J. (Eds.). Their article, entitled "Molecular Timescale of Evolution in the Proterozoic," is one of many sections exploring topics from the rise in complexity of life, to phylogeny and timing of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the colonization of land by plants and fungi, global glaciations, and "oxygen and the Cambrian explosion."
Their pdf is available here: http://evo.bio.psu.edu/hedgeslab/Publications/PDF-files/182.pdf [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 22, 2006
Astrobiology News 22 November 2006
November 21, 2006
Astrobiology News 21 November 2006
November 17, 2006
Astrobiology News 17 November 2006
November 16, 2006
Astrobiology News 16 November 2006
Conditions for the Emergence of Life on the Early Earth: Special Issue Special Issue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (B). Organised and edited by Charles Cockell, Sydney Leach and Ian Smith Published August 2006
Living entities exhibit the three fundamental characteristics of metabolism, growth and reproduction, and are capable of evolutionary adaptation to their environment. Understanding how life having these characteristics emerged on Earth within 1 billion years of its formation is both a fascinating scientific problem and a pre-requisite for predicting the presence of life elsewhere in the universe. The origins of the biotic raw materials, the physical and chemical conditions on the early Earth permitting development, first to primitive life forms and subsequently to more complex forms of life were all subjects for lively debate at the Discussion meeting. Recent advances in several areas were reported, including possible new modes of formation of cellular structures, new metabolic and self-assembly processes, and tests of Darwin's conjecture that life might have started in a warm little pond. The meeting demonstrated the mutual dependence of the wide range of subjects discussed and, by highlighting unsolved problems, new avenues of research were suggested.
For more information: http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=1308
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
NAI Director's Seminar 11/27: Formation of Habitable Planetary Systems: Are We Normal?
Speakers: Sean Raymond (University of Colorado) and Avi Mandell (Goddard Space Flight Center) Date/Time: Monday, November 27, 2006 11AM PST
Abstract: For a planet to be potentially habitable over long timescales, it must 1) have a stable orbit in the "habitable zone" (HZ); 2) have sufficient mass to sustain plate tectonics and maintain an atmosphere; and 3) have a substantial water content. Habitable planets are thought to form from a swarm of rocky/icy bodies in circumstellar disks, and it is this process which determines whether these "habitability criteria" will be met. We will review this process in the context of the formation of Earth and the Solar System, and examine the conditions needed to form habitable planets around other stars. Of particular importance is the presence and location of giant planets, which form more quickly than terrestrial planets and can strongly influence the final stages of terrestrial planet formation. We discuss models of terrestrial planet formation in systems with different configurations of giant planets, and we derive limits on habitable planet formation that suggest that about one third of the known sample of giant planet systems could harbor a potentially habitable planet. The formation and final characteristics of habitable planets formed in these simulations depend strongly on the dynamics of the giant planets, and we predict the existence of a large variety in the masses, orbits and compositions of Earth-like planets around other stars.
For participation instructions and more information, please visit: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?ID=95
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
ROSES-06 Amendment 19: New proposal opportunity for History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space
With this amendment to ROSES-2006, NASA establishes a new program element in Appendix E.5 entitled "History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space." The primary objective of the History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space (HSEES) program element is to engage, inform, and inspire diverse public audiences by sharing historical knowledge about NASA's scientific exploration of the Earth and space and by communicating NASA's unique contributions to the advancement of Earth and space science during the past 50 years. An essential component of communicating to the public is accurate, complete, well-written histories about the scientific exploration of space.
The HSEES program element solicits proposals to produce accurate, complete, interpretive, and readable histories of major activities in NASA's scientific exploration of Earth and space as supported by the Science Mission Directorate and its predecessor organizations since the establishment of NASA. This program element is broadly defined to include cooperative international activities in which these NASA organizations played a significant role. Notices of Intent to propose are due December 15, 2006, and proposals are due February 15, 2007. On or about October 26, 2006, Amendment No. 19 to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2006" (NNH06ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH06ZDA001N").
Questions may be addressed to Dr. T. Jens Feeley, Management and Policy Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-1714; Email: jens.feeley-1@hq.nasa.gov.
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) Call for Proposals
The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites proposals for the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI). See Program Solicitation NSF 07-510 at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07510/nsf07510.htm This solicitation addresses major instrument acquisition or instrument development that is too costly for support through other NSF programs.
NSF limits institutions to three submissions, two for instrument acquisition and one for instrument development.
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
The HFSP (Human Frontier Science Program) Journal - Call for Papers
HFSP Publishing is launching a new journal for scientists doing high quality, innovative interdisciplinary research at the interface between biology and the fields of physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or engineering. The journal offers scientists a truly interdisciplinary peer review system involving scientists from different disciplines doing interdisciplinary research.
The HFSP Journal publishes primary research articles as well as Commentaries and Perspectives, which will highlight up and coming developments in interdisciplinary research in a language and format accessible across scientific disciplines.
Website: http://hfspj.aip.org
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
Thermophiles 2007 - First call
The 9th International Thermophiles Conference will be held from 24th to 27th of September 2007 in Bergen, the "Gateway to the Fjords of Norway". The conference will cover all aspects of microorganisms living at high temperatures. Registration and abstract submission will open on January 15, 2007.
For more information: http://sites.web123.no/AtlanticReiser/uib/Thermophiles2007/
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 15, 2006
Astrobiology News 15 November 2006
November 14, 2006
Astrobiology News 14 November 2006
November 13, 2006
Astrobiology News 13 November 2006
November 10, 2006
Astrobiology News 9 November 2006
November 7, 2006
Astrobiology News 7 November 2006
November 6, 2006
Astrobiology News 6 November 2006
November 2, 2006
Astrobiology News 2 November 2006
Astrobiology Primer is Published
The Astrobiology Primer: An Outline of General Knowledge appears in this month's issue of Astrobiology. Sponsored by the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI), the Primer was spearheaded by editor-in-chief Lucas Mix, and represents the work of 8 editors, 13 authors, and countless contributors.
Intended as a reference tool, it provides information in these 7 topics: Stellar Formation and Evolution, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Astrobiogeochemistry and the Origin of Life, Evolution of Life Through Time, Planet Detection and Characterization, Diversity of Life, and Science in Space. The Primer came about in large part because of NAI support for graduate student research, collaboration, and inclusion as well as direct funding. Download your copy today: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ast.2006.6.735 [Source: NAI Newsletter]
Romer's Gap Confirmed
Peter Ward from NAI's Alumni Team at the University of Washington and his collaborators have a new paper out in PNAS providing supportive evidence for Romer's Gap. Their results link this gap in vertebrate terrestrialization with a low atmospheric oxygen interval. This paper supports Ward's new book on the evolution of effective respiratory systems, entitled "Out of Thin Air." [Source: NAI Newsletter]
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program
NASA announces a call for graduate fellowship proposals to the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program for the 2007/2008 academic year. This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. Universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines.
The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's scientific goals outlined above. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities. The deadline for NEW applications is February 1, 2007, and the deadline for RENEWAL applications is March 15, 2007. Note that last year the program was called the Earth System Science Fellowship (ESSF) program.
The NESSF call for proposals may be found at the NESSF 07 solicitation index page at http://nspires.nasaprs.com (select "Solicitations" then select "Open Solicitations" then select "NESSF 07").
Proposals must be submitted electronically through NASA's NSPIRES system. The advisor has an active role in the electronic submission of the fellowship proposal. To use the NSPIRES system, the student, the advisor, and the university must all register. Once you are in the NSPIRES database system, you will be registered for all future NASA submissions. Extended instructions on how to submit an electronic proposal package are posted on the NESSF 07 solicitation index page listed above. You can register in NSPIRES here http://nspires.nasaprs.com.
For further information contact: Program Administrator for NESSF Earth Science Research – Anne Crouch at (202) 358-0855 or by E-mail at hq-nessf-Earth@nasa.gov . Program Administrator for NESSF Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research – Dolores Holland at (202) 358-0734 or by E-mail at hq-nessf-Space@nasa.gov . [Source: NAI Newsletter]
University of Washington Seminar: Self-assembly Processes in the Prebiotic Environment
Join us for the next University of Washington Astrobiology Seminar! David Deamer of U.C. Santa Cruz will be speaking on the topic "Self-assembly Processes in the Prebiotic Environment"
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 14th 2:30PM PST
Abstract: Although the physical environment that fostered primitive cellular life is still largely unconstrained, we can be reasonably confident that liquid water was required, together with a source of organic compounds and energy to drive polymerization reactions. There must also have been a process by which the compounds were sufficiently concentrated to undergo physical and chemical interactions. Our laboratory is exploring self-assembly processes and polymerization reactions of organic compounds in natural geothermal environments and related laboratory simulations. We have found that RNA-like polymers can be synthesized non-enzymatically from ordered arrays of mononucleotides in lipid microenvironments. Chemical activation of the mononucleotides is not required. Instead, synthesis of phosphodiester bonds is driven by the chemical potential of fluctuating anhydrous and hydrated conditions, with heat providing activation energy during dehydration. In the final hydration step, the RNA is encapsulated within lipid vesicles. The reaction has been shown to occur not only in a laboratory setting, but also on mineral surfaces of a hydrothermal volcanic site on Mt. Lassen. We are now extending this approach to template-directed synthesis of RNA, in which lipid-assisted polymerization serves as a model of an early stage of evolution toward an RNA World.
[Source: NAI Newsletter]
Faculty Positions in Science and Engineering: Arizona State University
In July 2006, Arizona State University launched the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) as part of a university-wide initiative in transdisciplinary research and education. SESE faculty are explicitly organizing their research efforts around "grand challenges" in the earth and space sciences, such as:
- Understanding the origin of life, the nature of biological evolution, and the distribution of life in the universe;
- Understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems;
- Understanding the chemical, physical, and biological process interactions that define the evolution of Earth and similar planets;
- Understanding the co-evolution of Earth and human societies; and
- Designing and implementing optimal strategies for the human and robotic exploration of space.
Success in these endeavors will demand the effective integration of disciplines such as astronomy, astrophysics, biogeochemistry, evolutionary and organismic biology, climate science, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, oceanography, and public policy. Importantly, meeting these challenges requires a fusion of science with "collaborative engineering", which we define for our purposes simply as the integration of design and informatics theories from many branches of engineering to facilitate scientific exploration and research on Earth and beyond.
Over the next four years, the School will be hiring a large number of faculty in order to build its capacity for such transdisciplinary research and education. We are now accepting applications from creative researchers and inspired educators as part of the first phase in this process.
For more information: http://sese.asu.edu/faculty_positions.php [Source: NAI Newsletter]
November 1, 2006
Astrobiology News 1 November 2006
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