Astrobiology and Laboratory Experiments

Facilities supply highly amorphous Mg-silicate, Fe-silicate and Fe-Mg silicate smokes, along with Fe-Aluminate, Mg-Aluminate and SiO-Aluminate smokes. Graphitic and carbonaceous coated Fe-silicate smokes are also produced for laboratory work that requires freshly condensed analogs of circumstellar or presolar dust.

An interdisciplinary Agnostic Biosignature Collective develops detection tools and techniques aimed at identifying living systems by focusing on fundamental characteristics rather than biochemical analogy. An Astrobiology Analytical Lab identifies organic materials such as amino acids from meteorites, extraterrestrial analogs, and sample return missions.

Groups studying extreme environment chemistry include a Cosmic Ice Lab that examines the spectra, chemistry and physical properties of ices, and a Hot Environments Lab that identifies organic materials like amino acids from meteorites, extraterrestrial analogs, and sample return missions.

astrobiology, amino acids, meteorites, sample return, agnostic biosignatures, presolar dust, circumstellar dust, mg-silicate, fe-silicate, cosmic ice