Location
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Rom
Start Date
6-8-2008 9:00 AM
End Date
6-8-2008 12:00 PM
Description
In 1976, the Viking mission made a remarkable discovery: Martian soil was capable of decomposing an organic nutrient broth to carbon dioxide as if it contained live microorganisms. However, a biological interpretation of this finding is in apparent contradiction with the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer aboard the Viking landers, which showed Martian soil to be devoid of indigenous organics. To reconcile these findings, it has been hypothesized that unknown abiotic oxidants, such as peroxide and superoxide, are present on Mars and that they were responsible for its soil reactivity. The objective of this research is to develop a life detection method that can distinguish biological reactivity from abiotic mimicry.
Keywords
Abiotic oxidants; Biological reactivity; Chemical reactivity; Mars; Martian soil; Viking mission
Disciplines
Soil Science | The Sun and the Solar System
Language
English
Stereospecificity in glucose consumption: A new approach to martian life detection
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Rom
In 1976, the Viking mission made a remarkable discovery: Martian soil was capable of decomposing an organic nutrient broth to carbon dioxide as if it contained live microorganisms. However, a biological interpretation of this finding is in apparent contradiction with the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer aboard the Viking landers, which showed Martian soil to be devoid of indigenous organics. To reconcile these findings, it has been hypothesized that unknown abiotic oxidants, such as peroxide and superoxide, are present on Mars and that they were responsible for its soil reactivity. The objective of this research is to develop a life detection method that can distinguish biological reactivity from abiotic mimicry.
Comments
Abstract & poster