Evaluating Pigments as a Biosignature: Abiotic/Prebiotic Synthesis of Pigments and Pigment Mimics in Planetary Environments
Pigments serve a multitude of functions in biology including light harvesting for
photosynthesis, radiation protection, membrane support, and defense. The ubiquity of …
photosynthesis, radiation protection, membrane support, and defense. The ubiquity of …
Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars
M Baqué, T Backhaus, J Meeßen, F Hanke… - Science …, 2022 - science.org
Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with,
among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about …
among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about …
Survivability of the lichen Xanthoria parietina in simulated Martian environmental conditions
Abstract Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. is a widely spread foliose lichen showing high
tolerance against UV-radiation thanks to parietin, a secondary lichen substance. We …
tolerance against UV-radiation thanks to parietin, a secondary lichen substance. We …
[HTML][HTML] Spectroscopic evidence of the radioresistance of Chroococcidiopsis biosignatures: A combined Raman, FT-IR and THz-TDs spectroscopy study
In the last decades, Mars has been widely studied with on-site missions and observations,
showing a planet that could have hosted life in the past. For this reason, the recent and …
showing a planet that could have hosted life in the past. For this reason, the recent and …
Variable and large losses of diagnostic biomarkers after simulated cosmic radiation exposure in clay-and carbonate-rich Mars analog samples
Mars has been exposed to ionizing radiation for several billion years, and as part of the
search for life on the Red Planet, it is crucial to understand the impact of radiation on …
search for life on the Red Planet, it is crucial to understand the impact of radiation on …
Fungal biomarkers are detectable in Martian rock-analogues after space exposure: implications for the search of life on Mars
Mars is a primary target of astrobiological interest: its past environmental conditions may
have been favourable to the emergence of a prebiotic chemistry and, potentially, biological …
have been favourable to the emergence of a prebiotic chemistry and, potentially, biological …
Fungal biomarkers stability in Mars regolith analogues after simulated space and Mars-like conditions
The discovery of life on other planets and moons in our solar system is one of the most
important challenges of this era. The second ExoMars mission will look for traces of extant or …
important challenges of this era. The second ExoMars mission will look for traces of extant or …
Nucleic acids and melanin pigments after exposure to high doses of gamma rays: a biosignature robustness test
The question about the stability of certain biomolecules is directly connected to the life-
detection missions aiming to search for past or present life beyond Earth. The extreme …
detection missions aiming to search for past or present life beyond Earth. The extreme …
Rapid Destruction of Lipid Biomarkers Under Simulated Cosmic Radiation
A Roussel, AA Pavlov, JP Dworkin, SS Johnson - Astrobiology, 2024 - liebertpub.com
Understanding how organics degrade under galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) is critical as we
search for traces of ancient life on Mars. Even if the planet harbored life early in its history, its …
search for traces of ancient life on Mars. Even if the planet harbored life early in its history, its …
The ground-based BIOMEX experiment verification tests for life detection on mars
The success of an astrobiological search for life campaign on Mars, or other planetary
bodies in the Solar System, relies on the detectability of past or present microbial life traces …
bodies in the Solar System, relies on the detectability of past or present microbial life traces …