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The Astrobiology Science Conference 2006 in Washington, D.C. on March 26-30, 2006, has a number of sessions and topics that might be interesting, including The Evolution Controversy, Astrobiology of the planets, Early Earth, Taphonomy (see below for a special symposium on this), Extremophiles, Prebiotic chemistry, Origin of life, etc. Paleontologic perspectives are always welcome. Note that Abstracts are due by Jan. 13. (See http://abscicon2006.arc.nasa.gov/abscicon2006.html for details).
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From John F. Cooper, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (John.F.Cooper@nasa.gov)
Poster contributions are solicited from all science communities for the symposium Weathering of Signs of Life on Planetary Bodies: Poster at the Astrobiology Science Conference 2006 (AbSciCon 2006) in Washington, D.C. during March 26-30, 2006.
Symposium Description
Astrobiology is ultimately the search for signs of extraterrestrial life beyond the Earth in other planetary environments that may be hostile to survival of organic and inorganic signatures of life. The three other bodies of highest astrobiological potential (Mars, Europa, and Titan) all have extreme surface weathering environments that would adversely affect capabilities of remote sensing and in-situ instruments to detect and confirm presence of such signatures. Similarly, extreme geologic modifications over billions of years limit our ability to find signs of very early life on the Earth. Even the signs of more recent life at the Earth’s surface are affected by various weathering processes. Mars and Europa are unique in having surfaces exposed to intense energetic particle and ultraviolet irradiation, not unlike the early surface of Earth before the rise of atmospheric oxygen and the resultant ozone shield. Europa’s thin atmosphere arises primarily from Jovian magnetospheric ion sputtering and is highly oxidizing, much like the surface of Mars. The Mars Viking experience informs us that a chemically oxidizing surface environment cannot be ignored in planning experiments to search for organic signs of life. On Mars, Titan, and Earth, wind-driven erosion is a critical process, both degrading but also potentially exposing surface signs. Meteoritic impact occasionally produces a local surface modification, and perhaps even massive extinction of extant life as on Earth 65 million years ago. In the absence of a substantial atmosphere, surfaces like that of Europa are continuously pelted by high-velocity micrometeoroids with highly erosive effects on surface materials that can destroy life signs. Cassini Huygens has revealed a Titan surface altered by flows of viscous liquid hydrocarbons, likely precipitated from the photochemically active atmosphere. Mars, Europa, and Titan may have subsurface liquid reservoirs occasionally flowing to the surface. Both Mars and Titan are now being explored by ongoing missions, and a future mission to Europa is now a top NASA priority. Any search for signs of life on these other bodies requires an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and anticipating the weathering effects of the local atmospheric, surface, and subsurface environments on these signs. Presentations are solicited which improve our understanding how weathering processes potentially affect the search for signs of life on other planetary bodies, as well as on early Earth, and which help prepare for future astrobiology missions to these bodies.
Abstract Submission
On-line at http://abscicon2006.arc.nasa.gov/abscicon2006.html by Jan. 13, 2006 at 11:59 PM PST. Questions: Please contact one of the organizers of this session below:
Organizers
Dr. John F. Cooper
Space Physics Data Facility
Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics
Code 612.4
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
8800 Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Phone: (301) 286-1193
Fax: (301) 286-1771
E-mail: John.F.Cooper@nasa.gov
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