Explanipedia

Microbial ecology of acidic, biogenic gypsum: community structure and distribution of extremophiles on freshly formed and relict sulfate deposits in a hydrogen sulfide-rich cave Open

Zoë E. Havlena, Katherine Lucero, Heather V. Graham, J. C. Stern, Scott D. Wankel , et al. · 2025

Sulfate minerals are abundant on the Martian surface, and many of these evaporite deposits are thought to have precipitated from acidic fluids. On Earth, gypsum (CaSO 4 •2H 2 O) and other sulfates sometimes form under acidic conditions, so…

A Comprehensive Framework for Assessing Terrestrial Analogue Field Sites for Ocean Worlds Open

J. C. Stern, Heather V. Graham, Bradley Burcar, Emily S. Martin, Aaron C. Noell , et al. · 2025

Field studies at terrestrial analogue sites represent an important contribution to the science of ocean worlds. The value of the science and technology investigations conducted at field analogue sites depends on the relevance of the analog…

Potential Survivable Niches for Microbial Life at the Lunar Poles Open

Prabal Saxena, S. Bertone, Heather V. Graham, Natalie M. Curran, A. B. Regberg , et al. · 2025

Environmental conditions on most of the lunar surface are incredibly harsh for the survival of most microbial life, due to a combination of high doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, energetic particle radiation, high temperatures and desic…

Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu Open

D. P. Glavin, Jason P. Dworkin, C. M. O'd. Alexander, José C. Aponte, Allison A. Baczynski , et al. · 2025

Organic matter in meteorites reveals clues about early Solar System chemistry and the origin of molecules important to life, but terrestrial exposure complicates interpretation. Samples returned from the B-type asteroid Bennu by the Origin…

Submicron-scale detection of microbes and smectite from the interior of a Mars-analogue basalt sample by optical-photothermal infrared spectroscopy Open

Yohey Suzuki, M. Koduka, Frank E. Brenker, T. Brooks, M. Glamoclija , et al. · 2025

For near-future missions planed for Mars Sample Return (MSR), an international working group organized by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) developed the sample safety assessment framework (SSAF). For the SSAF, analytical instrument…

Operational considerations for approximating molecular assembly by Fourier transform mass spectrometry Open

Gabriella M. Weiss, Silke Asche, Hannah L. McLain, Angela H. Chung, S. Hessam M. Mehr , et al. · 2024

Some of the most common life detection techniques for planetary exploration focus on organic molecule characterization, but life on other planets may not chemically resemble that found on Earth. Therefore, an agnostic detection system of s…

Primordial aqueous alteration recorded in water-soluble organic molecules from the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu Open

Yoshinori Takano, Hiroshi Naraoka, Jason P. Dworkin, Toshiki Koga, Kazunori Sasaki , et al. · 2024

Development of a gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for assembly theory measurements Open

Silke Asche, Gabriella M. Weiss, Frederic Sequin, Heather V. Graham · 2024

Assembly theory (AT) is a proposed framework for an agnostic biosignature detection method based on the idea that life produces complex objects in abundance1. The complexity assignment for an object is based on the number of required steps…

Enantioselective three-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of amino acids in the Hayabusa2 returned samples from the asteroid Ryugu Open

Aogu Furusho, Chiharu Ishii, Takeyuki Akita, Mai Oyaide, Masashi Mita , et al. · 2024

The chirality of amino acids in extraterrestrial materials may provide an insight into the origin of the essential l-enantiopure amino acids in the terrestrial biosphere. In 2020, the Hayabusa2 mission succeeded in bringing back surface ma…

Foundations of Molecular 'Isotomics' Open

Jaime César, Brooke Dallas, Laura Chimiak, Kliti Grace, Matthieu Clog , et al. · 2024

The naturally occurring rare isotopes are versions of common elements, such as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, that contain a larger than usual number of neutrons in their atomic nuclei and therefore are higher in mass than the common atoms o…

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples of Ryugu formed in the interstellar medium Open

Sarah S. Zeichner, José C. Aponte, Surjyendu Bhattacharjee, Guannan Dong, Amy E. Hofmann , et al. · 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contain ≲20% of the carbon in the interstellar medium. They are potentially produced in circumstellar environments (at temperatures ≳1000 kelvin), by (~10 kelvin) interstellar clouds, or by processin…

Investigating the impact of x‐ray computed tomography imaging on soluble organic matter in the Murchison meteorite: Implications for Bennu sample analyses Open

D. P. Glavin, S. A. Eckley, José C. Aponte, E. L. Berger, Aaron S. Burton , et al. · 2023

X‐ray computed tomography (XCT) is a valuable reconnaissance tool for three‐dimensional imaging and identification of distinct lithologies in extraterrestrial samples. It will be used as part of the preliminary examination of samples retur…

The Vacant Niche Revisited: Using Negative Results to Refine the Limits of Habitability Open

L.E. Ratliff, Avery H. Fulford, Chad Pozarycki, Gina M. Wimp, Floyd Nichols , et al. · 2023

To define the boundaries of habitability, biologists often search for highly specialized organisms in extreme environments. However, negative life detections—when a method is unable to detect microorganisms in a given setting—are just as i…

Soluble organic matter Molecular atlas of Ryugu reveals cold hydrothermalism on C-type asteroid parent body Open

Philippe Schmitt‐Kopplin, Norbert Hertkorn, Mourad Harir, Franco Moritz, Marianna Lucio , et al. · 2023

Chemical evolution of primordial salts and organic sulfur molecules in the asteroid 162173 Ryugu Open

Toshihiro Yoshimura, Yoshinori Takano, Hiroshi Naraoka, Toshiki Koga, Daisuke Araoka , et al. · 2023

In Situ Optimized Substrate Witness Plates: Ground Truth for Key Processes on the Moon and Other Planets Open

Prabal Saxena, Liam S. Morrissey, R. M. Killen, J. L. McLain, Li Hsia Yeo , et al. · 2023

Future exploration efforts of the Moon, Mars, and other bodies are poised to focus heavily on persistent and sustainable survey and research efforts, especially given the recent interest in a long‐term sustainable human presence at the Moo…

In-situ Optimized Substrate Witness Plates: Ground Truth for Key Processes on the Moon and Other Planets Open

Prabal Saxena, Liam S. Morrissey, R. M. Killen, J. L. McLain, Li Hsia Yeo , et al. · 2023

Future exploration efforts of the Moon, Mars and other bodies are poised to focus heavily on persistent and sustainable survey and research efforts, especially given the recent interest in a long-term sustainable human presence at the Moon…

Lunar Samples are Time Capsules of the Sun Open

Prabal Saxena, Natalie M. Curran, Heather V. Graham · 2023

Whitepaper #354 in the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033. Main topics: space weather applications; basic research. Additional topics: inner heliosphere; other space weather; emerging opportunities.

Waterfowl populations decline with nutrient reduction and increase with nutrient restoration: 20 years of adaptive management at a Ramsar-listed wastewater treatment plant Open

Richard Loyn, Danny I. Rogers, Robert J Swindley, Peter Menkhorst, Kasey Stamation , et al. · 2023

In-situ Optimized Substrate Witness Plates: Ground Truth for Key Processes on the Moon and Other Planets Open

Prabal Saxena, Liam S. Morrissey, R. M. Killen, J. L. McLain, Li Hsia Yeo , et al. · 2023

Future exploration efforts of the Moon, Mars and other bodies are poised to focus heavily on persistent and sustainable survey and research efforts. This is especially true for the Moon, as additional orbital and surface efforts have been …

The spatial distribution of soluble organic matter and their relationship to minerals in the asteroid (162173) Ryugu Open

Minako Hashiguchi, Dan Aoki, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Hiroshi Naraoka, Yoshinori Takano , et al. · 2023

We performed in-situ analysis on a ~ 1 mm-sized grain A0080 returned by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu to investigate the relationship of soluble organic matter (SOM) to minerals. Desorption electrospray i…

Soluble organic molecules in samples of the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu Open

Hiroshi Naraoka, Yoshinori Takano, Jason P. Dworkin, Yasuhiro Oba, Kenji Hamase , et al. · 2023

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected samples from the surface of the carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu and brought them to Earth. The samples were expected to contain organic molecules, which record processes that occurred in t…

Community Report from the Biosignatures Standards of Evidence Workshop Open

Victoria Meadows, Heather V. Graham, Victor Abrahamsson, Zach Adam, Elena Amador-French , et al. · 2022

The search for life beyond the Earth is the overarching goal of the NASA Astrobiology Program, and it underpins the science of missions that explore the environments of Solar System planets and exoplanets. However, the detection of extrate…

Deuterium Isotope Fractionation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Meteorites as an Indicator of Interstellar/Protosolar Processing History Open

Heather V. Graham, Jamie E. Elsila, Jason P. Dworkin, Scott A. Sandford, José C. Aponte · 2022

The stable isotope composition of soluble and insoluble organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites can be used to determine the provenance of organic molecules in space. Deuterium enrichment in meteoritic organics could be a residual sig…

Lunar Samples are Time Capsules of the Sun Open

Prabal Saxena, Natalie M. Curran, Heather V. Graham · 2022

The Heliophysics Decadal survey should embrace the coming opportunity of sustained lunar surface exploration and facilitate cross-disciplinary efforts to unlock the secrets of the Sun that are held by the lunar surface. With planned Artemi…

Diagnostic biosignature transformation under simulated martian radiation in organic-rich sedimentary rocks Open

A. Roussel, A. C. McAdam, Heather V. Graham, Alexander A. Pavlov, C. N. Achilles , et al. · 2022

As we look for traces of ancient life on Mars, we need to consider the impact of ionizing radiation in the biosignature preservation process. Here, we irradiated two organic rich terrestrial samples (Enspel and Messel shales) that have Mar…

The spatial distribution of soluble organic matter and its relationship to minerals in the asteroid (162173) Ryugu. Open

Minako Hashiguchi, Dan Aoki, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Hiroshi Naraoka, Yoshinori Takano , et al. · 2022

We performed in-situ analysis on a ~1 mm-sized Ryugu grain A0080 returned by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to investigate the relationship of soluble organic matter (SOM) to minerals. The DESI-HRMS (desorption electrospray ionization-high resol…

Organic carbon concentrations in 3.5-billion-year-old lacustrine mudstones of Mars Open

J. C. Stern, C. A. Malespin, J. L. Eigenbrode, Christopher R. Webster, Greg Flesch , et al. · 2022

The Sample Analysis at Mars instrument stepped combustion experiment on a Yellowknife Bay mudstone at Gale crater, Mars revealed the presence of organic carbon of Martian and meteoritic origins. The combustion experiment was designed to ac…

COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) Open

Gerhard Kminek, James N. Benardini, Frank E. Brenker, Timothy Brooks, Aaron S. Burton , et al. · 2022

The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) has been developed by a COSPAR appointed Working Group. The objective of the sample safety assessment would be to evaluate whether samples returned from Mar…

Governance and Leadership Challenges and Strategies for Ontario Health Teams Open

Ross Baker, Paula Blackstien-Hirsch, Michelle R. Nelson, Heather V. Graham, Lynne Sinclair , et al. · 2022

The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020…

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