Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Life in the Solar System: The search for signs of life beyond Earth drives much of solar system exploration. The gaps in our understanding of life beyond Earth and the origin of life on Earth will be addressed in this research program. 1. Prebiotic chemistry: How much did chemistry that happened in the solar system "kick-start" life on Earth? This can be addressed by bringing back samples from carbon-rich asteroids, analyzing carbon-rich meteorites, and exploring other bodies that have organic molecules, such as Mars and icy worlds. 2. Astrobiology and habitability: Is there evidence of life beyond Earth? Life interacts with its surroundings and normally leaves geological evidence, such as (1) mineralized fossils; (2) trapped microbes, (3) minerals that microbes produce; and (4) specific organic molecules associated with life. Proposed Research: This project will involve the search for life beyond Earth by: (1) determine the organic chemistry of icy worlds and carbon-rich asteroids, (2) explore the surface of Mars for signs of past or present life, and (3) improve our understanding of the biological potential of icy bodies. These themes will involve bringing together: analysis of sample brought back to Earth by sample return missions, meteorites that have fallen to Earth, lab simulations of planetary surfaces, field work at places on Earth relevant to Mars and icy bodies, and analyzing data from planetary missions. Specific activities that I will undertake include: 1. Look for evidence of past or present life on Mars by: oAnalyzing data from the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers for different kinds of evidence: (1) mineralized fossils; (2) trapped microbes, (3) minerals that microbes produce; and (4) specific organic molecules associated with life) o Putting Mars-like rovers out in the field at places that have some similarities to Mars and icy bodies o Using environment chambers that reproduce the surfaces of Mars and icy bodies to see how signs of life survive these conditions 2. Use environment chambers and places in the field to see how well scientific instruments meant to detect signs of life perform, how we can analyze data from these instruments, and how we can improve them. 3.Determine what kinds of organic molecules are on carbon-rich asteroids, focusing on asteroids which have been sampled by spacecraft (i.e., Bennu and Ryugu). Do this via a combination of: analyzing data gathered by these spacecraft, analyzing the samples they are bringing back in our lab, and studying carbon-rich meteorites that have fallen on Earth and comparing them to carbon-rich rocks found on Earth that were produced by life. This NSERC DG project will help us better understand of the origin and evolution of life in the solar system (a fundamental scientific quest), how life may have been "seeded" by asteroids, as well as increase Canada's reputation in astrobiology and chances to participate in future international planetary exploration missions.