Reading Citations

Question 1

Astro Biology Primer

Answer 1

(Domogal-Goldman et al., 2015)

Question 2

(Domogal-Goldman et al., 2015)

Answer 2

• defining AstroBio
• defining life
• defining life on Earth
• distinguishing abiotic vs biotic
• space exploration for ET life similar to Earth
  - NASA Viking Mars
• Big Bang
• star formation/death
• solar system development
• planet formation/differentiation
• how life first emerged
  (1) CHNOPS
  (2) Polymer/complex molecules synthesis
  (3) reaction cycles of complex molecules
  (4) macrostructures w/organized compartmentalized reactions
  (5) shifts from chemical equilibrium –> homeostasis
• changes across development of Earth’s biosphere - higher levels of O2 and N2
• what does Earth tell us about life?
• habitability requirements
• chemical comp of Earth
• life shares common solvent: water
• minimum energy required for life
• potential exceptions for ET life (methane solvent)
• Icy moons

Question 3

(Stueken et al., 2013)

Answer 3

• chemical and physical conditions which CHNOPS can be synthesized
• life evolution from Hadean Earth
  (1) multiple microenvironments
  (2) mineral catalysts led to metabolism
  (3) multiple local/global transport processes
  (4) global diversity and selection of reactants/products
• suggest further research into link between organic precursors, minerals, and fluids
• hydrothermal vents, earth’s oceans
• how Hadean Earth and natural reactions led to biological systems

Question 4

(Gibb, 2015)

Answer 4

• organic molecules in solar system and where
• gas and ice giants
  ex: Titan, Europa, Uranus, Neptune

Question 5

(Cousins, 2018)

Answer 5

ExoMars Rover - ESA and Roscosmos (2020)
- looking for evidence of life

Chemofossils
- compounds left after life decomposes
- Mars geological time capsule - no plate tectonics
-Biosignature Hunt

Contamination
- space exploration contamination

Question 6

(Kasting, 2021)

Answer 6

• climate evolution
• estimating boundaries of habitable zones are sun and other stars
• argues FOR restricting our search for life to liquid water-dependent life
• water is polar, solvent
• water needs to be at planet’s surface

Question 7

(Crawford, 2012)

Answer 7

• argues FOR efficiency, reliability, and success of human manned missions over Robots

Question 8

(Cockell, 2015)

Answer 8

SETI, Fermi