Explanipedia

Planetary sources of bio-essential nutrients on a prebiotic world Open

Toni Galloway, Abu Saeed Baidya, C. R. Cousins, Eva E. Stüeken · 2025

Multiple bio-essential elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus are found in all forms of life discovered thus far. In addition to these major elements, many transition metals have been proposed as crucial components for prebiotic and earl…

Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth Open

Arola Moreras Marti, Mark Fox‐Powell, Jaime L. Toney, A. C. McAdam, Charlotte Slaymark , et al. · 2025

Salt minerals precipitated during evaporation or freezing of brines can capture organic and geochemical biosignatures, preserving crucial information about the aqueous environment at the time of their formation [1]. Such salts are prevalen…

Enfys: A Near-Infrared Spectrometer for the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover Open

P. M. Grindrod, C. R. Cousins, Roger Stabbins, Saskia Hagan-Fellowes, Grace Nielson , et al. · 2025

IntroductionThe main goal of the ESA ExoMars Rosalind Franklin (EMRF) rover mission is to search for past and present life on Mars [1]. Enfys is a new near-infrared spectrometer, added to the mission in 2023, currently under development, b…

Biological nitrogen cycling within terrestrial hot springs: A Mars analogue system Open

Toni Galloway, C. R. Cousins, Eva E. Stüeken, Jon Telling, Joanne Boden , et al. · 2025

Optimizing ExoMars Rover Remote Sensing Multispectral Science II: Choosing and Using Multispectral Filters for Dynamic Planetary Surface Exploration With Linear Discriminant Analysis Open

Roger Stabbins, P. M. Grindrod, S. Motaghian, E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins · 2024

In this paper we address two problems associated with data‐limited dynamic spacecraft exploration: data‐prioritization for transmission, and data‐reduction for interpretation, in the context of ESA ExoMars rover multispectral imaging. We p…

Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth Open

Arola Moreras Marti, Mark Fox‐Powell, Jaime L. Toney, A. C. McAdam, Charlotte Slaymark , et al. · 2024

Salts formed during evaporation or freezing of brines can potentially incorporate organic matter that can inform about past biological activity. We analysed the lipid fraction preserved within the contemporary Lost Hammer salt deposit (Can…

Standards for clinical trials for treating TB Open

Philipp du Cros, Jane Greig, J.-W. C. Alffenaar, Gail Brenda Cross, C. R. Cousins , et al. · 2023

BACKGROUND: The value, speed of completion and robustness of the evidence generated by TB treatment trials could be improved by implementing standards for best practice. METHODS: A global panel of experts participated in a Delphi process, …

Entombment of microbial biomass within rapidly frozen fluid droplets relevant to the plumes of Enceladus Open

Mark Fox‐Powell, Álvaro del Moral, Ben Stephens, Connor Dazley, David Slade , et al. · 2022

<p><strong>Introduction.</strong> The plumes emanating from the south polar region of Saturn’s moon Enceladus were studied by the Cassini mission and have revealed evidence for ongoing hydrothermal activity [1],…

Following the flow—Microbial ecology in surface‐ and groundwaters in the glacial forefield of a rapidly retreating glacier in Iceland Open

Lotta Purkamo, Brighid Ó Dochartaigh, Alan MacDonald, C. R. Cousins · 2022

The retreat of glaciers in response to climate change has major impacts on the hydrology and ecosystems of glacier forefield catchments. Microbes are key players in ecosystem functionality, supporting the supply of ecosystem services that …

Sulfur isotopes as biosignatures for Mars and Europa exploration Open

Arola Moreras Marti, Mark Fox‐Powell, C. R. Cousins, Michael C. Macey, Aubrey L. Zerkle · 2022

Sulfur (S) isotopes are used to trace metabolic pathways associated with biological S-cycling in past and present environments on Earth. These pathways (sulfate reduction, sulfur disproportionation and sulfide oxidation) can produce unique…

Optimizing ExoMars Rover Remote Sensing Multispectral Science: Cross‐Rover Comparison Using Laboratory and Orbital Data Open

P. M. Grindrod, Roger Stabbins, S. Motaghian, E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins , et al. · 2022

Multispectral imaging instruments have been core payload components of Mars lander and rover missions for several decades. In order to place into context the future performance of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, we have carried out a …

Optimizing ExoMars 2022 Rover Remote Sensing Multispectral Science: Cross-Rover Comparison using Laboratory and Orbital Data Open

P. M. Grindrod, Roger Stabbins, S. Motaghian, E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins , et al. · 2022

Multispectral imaging instruments have been core payload components of Mars lander and rover missions for several decades. In order to place into context the future performance of the ExoMars 2022 Rosalind Franklin rover, we have carried o…

Hunting for Life on Mars by Studying Life on Earth Open

Michael C. Macey, Ann Grand, Mark Fox‐Powell, Nisha K. Ramkissoon, C. R. Cousins , et al. · 2021

Modern-day Mars is a dry, harsh environment with no surface water, but billions of years ago it might have been water-rich, like Earth. Scientists believe that, as water was lost on Mars, the remaining water would have become increasingly …

Volcanic controls on the microbial habitability of Mars‐analogue hydrothermal environments Open

Arola Moreras Marti, Mark Fox‐Powell, Aubrey L. Zerkle, Eva E. Stüeken, Fernando Gázquez , et al. · 2021

Due to their potential to support chemolithotrophic life, relic hydrothermal systems on Mars are a key target for astrobiological exploration. We analysed water and sediments at six geothermal pools from the rhyolitic Kerlingarfjöll and ba…

Multiscale spectral discrimination of poorly crystalline and intermixed alteration phases using aerial and ground-based ExoMars rover emulator data Open

E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins, M. Gunn, Eleanor R. Mare · 2021

Coupling sulfur isotopes with lipid biomarkers at Europa-analogue hypersaline springs in the Arctic Open

Arola Moreras Marti, Mark Fox‐Powell, Jaime L. Toney, C. R. Cousins, Aubrey L. Zerkle · 2021

Partitioning of Crystalline and Amorphous Phases During Freezing of Simulated Enceladus Ocean Fluids Open

Mark Fox‐Powell, C. R. Cousins · 2020

Saturn's ice‐covered moon Enceladus may contain the requisite conditions for life. Its potentially habitable subsurface ocean is vented into space as large cryovolcanic plumes that can be sampled by spacecraft, acting as a window to the oc…

Data in support of manuscript titled: "Partitioning of crystalline and amorphous phases during freezing of simulated Enceladus ocean fluids" Open

Mark Fox‐Powell, C. R. Cousins · 2020

Saturn’s ice-covered moon Enceladus may contain the requisite conditions for life. Its potentially habitable subsurface ocean is vented into space as large ice-rich cryovolcanic plumes that can be sampled by spacecraft, acting as a window …

Production of crystalline and amorphous phases during freezing of simulated Enceladus ocean fluids Open

Mark Fox‐Powell, C. R. Cousins · 2020

. IntroductionThe Saturnian moon Enceladus exhibits large cryovolcanic plumes sourced from a subsurface ocean which contain evidence of endogenic organic chemistry and ongoing hydrothermal activity [2-4]. Salt-rich ice particles observed i…

A First Look at Mars with PanCam: ExoMars 2022 Spectral Instrument Suite Emulator Observations of Martian Meteorites Open

S. Motaghian, P. M. Grindrod, Roger Stabbins, E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins , et al. · 2020

Introduction: The ExoMars 2022 Rosalind Franklin rover is scheduled to be launched in summer 2022 with a suite of instruments to investigate the Martian surface and near sub-surface [1]. The context instruments: the Panoramic Camera …

The identification of sulfide oxidation as a potential metabolism driving primary production on late Noachian Mars Open

Michael C. Macey, Mark Fox‐Powell, Nisha K. Ramkissoon, Ben Stephens, T. Barton , et al. · 2020

Multiscale and Multispectral Characterization of Mineralogy with the ExoMars 2022 Rover Remote Sensing Payload Open

E. J. Allender, C. R. Cousins, M. Gunn, C. M. Caudill · 2020

In 2022, the European Space Agency and Roscosmos will launch the ExoMars rover, with the scientific objective to detect evidence of life within the Martian surface via the deployment of a 2 m drill. The ExoMars Pasteur payload contains sev…

Ultradeep Microbial Communities at 4.4 km within Crystalline Bedrock: Implications for Habitability in a Planetary Context Open

Lotta Purkamo, Riikka Kietäväinen, Maija Nuppunen-Puputti, Malin Bomberg, C. R. Cousins · 2020

The deep bedrock surroundings are an analog for extraterrestrial habitats for life. In this study, we investigated microbial life within anoxic ultradeep boreholes in Precambrian bedrock, including the adaptation to environmental condition…

Metamorphic evolution of carbonate-hosted microbial biosignature Open

C. R. Cousins, Sami Mikhail, Frédéric Foucher, A. Steele, F. Westall · 2020

This work was funded by a Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellowship. FF and FW acknowledge funding from the CNRS and CNES.

Biosignature detection by Mars rover equivalent instruments in samples from the CanMars Mars Sample Return Analogue Deployment Open

J. Stromberg, Alexis Parkinson, Matthew Q. Morison, E. A. Cloutis, Nora J. Casson , et al. · 2019

ExoFiT: ExoMars-Like Field Trials – a Mission Simulation Open

Alexander Hall, Ben Dobke, M. Lisle, M. Shilton, Elie Allouis , et al. · 2019

International audience

The microbial diversity of a sulfur-rich and saline cold pool in the Canadian high Arctic Open

Michael C. Macey, Ben Stephens, Mark Fox‐Powell, S. P. Schwenzer, V. K. Pearson , et al. · 2019

Currently, the surface of Mars cannot sustain liquid water, but there is evidence suggesting that water was present in the Noachian. Although water might exist in the subsurface of Mars, it could not sustain in the present day unless it wa…

UV luminescence characterisation of organics in Mars-analogue substrates Open

Boris Laurent, C. R. Cousins, M. Gunn, C. Huntly, Rachel E. Cross , et al. · 2018

The 2016 UK Space Agency Mars Utah Rover Field Investigation (MURFI) Open

M. R. Balme, Mike Curtis-Rouse, Steven G. Banham, David Barnes, Robert Barnes , et al. · 2018

The ExoMars Spectral Tool (ExoSpec): an image analysis tool for ExoMars 2020 PanCam imagery Open

E. J. Allender, Roger Stabbins, M. Gunn, C. R. Cousins, A. J. Coates · 2018

This work was supported by the UK Space Agency (ST/P001297/1 and ST/P001394/1). Cousins also acknowledges the Royal Society of Edinburgh for funding.

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