Exobiology

@misc{young1966extraterrestrial2,
    author = "Young, R. S",
    title = "Extraterrestrial Biology",
    year = "1966",
    howpublished = "New York, Holt, Rinehart \& Winston",
    note = "talkorigins\_source = {true}; raw\_reference = {Young, R. S., 1966, Extraterrestrial Biology: New York, Holt, Rinehart \& Winston.}"
}

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that has been given to the people of the world in the last few hundred years has been an emerging sense of the place of our planet and its inhabitants within the context of the vast universe. Our knowledge of the rest of the universe has not come quickly, nor was the process of attaining it only recently begun; however, the unprecedented acceleration of that process has benefitted from a fundamental new aspect of our species that has only manifested itself in the last 30 years or so, the ability to travel in space. Before the space age, the Universe was studied only through observations from the Earth. All that has changed with the beginning of the space age. Machines built by humans have flown to all but one of the nine planets that revolve around our Sun, have ventured billions of miles from the and looked back, and have landed on three other worlds. Spacecraft in orbit around the have viewed the sky at a vast number of electromagnetic wavelengths, detecting the shape of the galaxy and the universe, and even measuring the remnants of the universe's beginning. Human explorers have ventured forth, first for short stays in orbit, then, later, walking upon the Moon and living for long periods in space. As they did so, billions of people on the came to view the in a fundamentally different way, not just as the familiar day to- day backdrop for their lives, but as a small oasis suspended in the night sky above an alien landscape. It is this new view of the that is the true gift of space exploration. exploration has at once given us a new perspective on the value of our world, and a new perspective from which to understand how it operates. It has shown us that the is by far the most precious place in the solar system in terms of supporting human life, while revealing that other destinations may still be compelling. exploration of space has at once become a challenge for humanity to overcome and a path to our common future. But for humanity to embark on this path, we need to understand ourselves in a new environment. As such, an understanding of the biological consequences of and opportunities in space flight is essential. In this, the first volume of a joint U.S./Russian series on space biology and medicine, we describe the current status of our understanding of space and present general information that will prove useful when reading subsequent volumes. Since we are witnesses to the beginning of a new era of interplanetary travel, a significant portion of the first volume will concentrate on the physical and ecological conditions that exist in near and outer space, as well as heavenly bodies from the smallest ones to the giant planets and stars. While space exploration is a comparatively recent endeavor, its foundations were laid much more than 30 years ago, and its history has been an eventful one. In the first part of this volume, Rauschenbach, Sokolskiy, and Gurjian address the Aspects of Exploration from its beginnings to a present-day view of the events of the space age. nature of space itself and its features is the focus of the second section of the volume. In the first chapter of the part, Stars and Interstellar Space, the origin and evolution of stars, and the nature of the portions of space most distant from are described by Galeev and Marochnik. In Chapter 2, Pisarenko, Logachev, and Kurt in The Sun and Interplanetary Space bring us to the vicinity of our own solar system and provide a description and discussion of the nearest star and its influence on the space environment that our and the other planets inhabit. In our solar system there are many fascinating objects, remnants of the formation of a rather ordinary star in a rather obscure portion of the galaxy. Historical accident has caused us to be much more curious (and knowledgeable) about The Inner Planets of the Solar System than about any of these other objects. In Chapter 3, Marov describes the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, their history and origin, and their environmental conditions, and in Chapter 4 Owen provides similar information about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, The Outer Planets of the Solar System. Morrison provides a thorough discussion of Asteroids, Comets, and Other Small Bodies in Chapter 5. understanding of these relics of the formation of the solar system may form the center of our ability to understand the origin of solar systems in general, and of the critical role that the beginning of the solar system had on the prospects for the origin of life and its continued survival and evolution in the face of their recurrent impacts on Earth. In Chapter 6, the first chapter of the third part, Rummel describes the area of Exobiology, the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the context of the origin and evolution of the universe. same processes that have given rise to life on may have given rise to life elsewhere. In Chapter 7, the Earth and the Biosphere, the nature and function of the are discussed as a specific instance of planetary and biological evolution. effects of biological processes on the under the influence of human activities are also addressed by Moore and Bartlett in Chapter 7. final chapter in this section concerns the prospects that life in the universe may be widespread; SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, by Billingham and Tarter, presents the arguments for conducting a search for evidence of life elsewhere in the galaxy, and describes the various methods proposed for conducting such a search. While SETI has a distinctly exploration al character, more direct means are available for exploring the solar system around us. fourth part of the volume addresses this subject of space exploration. Considering the prospects for research on space biology and medicine, the means of providing Access to Space are described by Feoktistov and Briggs in Chapter 9. This chapter addresses carriers and launch systems, the unmanned and manned spacecraft that they loft into space, and the task of mission operations by which these precious vessels are monitored, navigated, and controlled. Despite the successes of the past and the capabilities of the present, it is clear that the study of space biology and medicine will be even more rewarding in the future than it has been to date. work of the next few years that will be undertaken by the U.S. and Russia, both independently and jointly, will focus first on enabling greater capabilities in the exploration of space, and then on using the unique characteristics of the space environment to provide insight and greater understanding into biological systems, their behavior, development, and origin. chapters of the first volume were written by leaders in their fields from the U.S. and Russia. material presented summarizes our current understanding of space and its exploration. We understand that the first volume will be of interest not only to medical personnel and biologists, but also to general readers who want information about space beyond their own particular fields of expertise.

@article{openalexw2988387100,
    author = "Nicogossian, Arnauld and Mohler, Stanley R. and Газенко, О. Г. and Grigoryev, Anatoliy I.",
    title = "Space biology and medicine.",
    year = "1979",
    journal = "PubMed",
    abstract = "Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that has been given to the people of the world in the last few hundred years has been an emerging sense of the place of our planet and its inhabitants within the context of the vast universe. Our knowledge of the rest of the universe has not come quickly, nor was the process of attaining it only recently begun; however, the unprecedented acceleration of that process has benefitted from a fundamental new aspect of our species that has only manifested itself in the last 30 years or so, the ability to travel in space. Before the space age, the Universe was studied only through observations from the Earth. All that has changed with the beginning of the space age. Machines built by humans have flown to all but one of the nine planets that revolve around our Sun, have ventured billions of miles from the and looked back, and have landed on three other worlds. Spacecraft in orbit around the have viewed the sky at a vast number of electromagnetic wavelengths, detecting the shape of the galaxy and the universe, and even measuring the remnants of the universe's beginning. Human explorers have ventured forth, first for short stays in orbit, then, later, walking upon the Moon and living for long periods in space. As they did so, billions of people on the came to view the in a fundamentally different way, not just as the familiar day to- day backdrop for their lives, but as a small oasis suspended in the night sky above an alien landscape. It is this new view of the that is the true gift of space exploration. exploration has at once given us a new perspective on the value of our world, and a new perspective from which to understand how it operates. It has shown us that the is by far the most precious place in the solar system in terms of supporting human life, while revealing that other destinations may still be compelling. exploration of space has at once become a challenge for humanity to overcome and a path to our common future. But for humanity to embark on this path, we need to understand ourselves in a new environment. As such, an understanding of the biological consequences of and opportunities in space flight is essential. In this, the first volume of a joint U.S./Russian series on space biology and medicine, we describe the current status of our understanding of space and present general information that will prove useful when reading subsequent volumes. Since we are witnesses to the beginning of a new era of interplanetary travel, a significant portion of the first volume will concentrate on the physical and ecological conditions that exist in near and outer space, as well as heavenly bodies from the smallest ones to the giant planets and stars. While space exploration is a comparatively recent endeavor, its foundations were laid much more than 30 years ago, and its history has been an eventful one. In the first part of this volume, Rauschenbach, Sokolskiy, and Gurjian address the Aspects of Exploration from its beginnings to a present-day view of the events of the space age. nature of space itself and its features is the focus of the second section of the volume. In the first chapter of the part, Stars and Interstellar Space, the origin and evolution of stars, and the nature of the portions of space most distant from are described by Galeev and Marochnik. In Chapter 2, Pisarenko, Logachev, and Kurt in The Sun and Interplanetary Space bring us to the vicinity of our own solar system and provide a description and discussion of the nearest star and its influence on the space environment that our and the other planets inhabit. In our solar system there are many fascinating objects, remnants of the formation of a rather ordinary star in a rather obscure portion of the galaxy. Historical accident has caused us to be much more curious (and knowledgeable) about The Inner Planets of the Solar System than about any of these other objects. In Chapter 3, Marov describes the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, their history and origin, and their environmental conditions, and in Chapter 4 Owen provides similar information about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, The Outer Planets of the Solar System. Morrison provides a thorough discussion of Asteroids, Comets, and Other Small Bodies in Chapter 5. understanding of these relics of the formation of the solar system may form the center of our ability to understand the origin of solar systems in general, and of the critical role that the beginning of the solar system had on the prospects for the origin of life and its continued survival and evolution in the face of their recurrent impacts on Earth. In Chapter 6, the first chapter of the third part, Rummel describes the area of Exobiology, the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the context of the origin and evolution of the universe. same processes that have given rise to life on may have given rise to life elsewhere. In Chapter 7, the Earth and the Biosphere, the nature and function of the are discussed as a specific instance of planetary and biological evolution. effects of biological processes on the under the influence of human activities are also addressed by Moore and Bartlett in Chapter 7. final chapter in this section concerns the prospects that life in the universe may be widespread; SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, by Billingham and Tarter, presents the arguments for conducting a search for evidence of life elsewhere in the galaxy, and describes the various methods proposed for conducting such a search. While SETI has a distinctly exploration al character, more direct means are available for exploring the solar system around us. fourth part of the volume addresses this subject of space exploration. Considering the prospects for research on space biology and medicine, the means of providing Access to Space are described by Feoktistov and Briggs in Chapter 9. This chapter addresses carriers and launch systems, the unmanned and manned spacecraft that they loft into space, and the task of mission operations by which these precious vessels are monitored, navigated, and controlled. Despite the successes of the past and the capabilities of the present, it is clear that the study of space biology and medicine will be even more rewarding in the future than it has been to date. work of the next few years that will be undertaken by the U.S. and Russia, both independently and jointly, will focus first on enabling greater capabilities in the exploration of space, and then on using the unique characteristics of the space environment to provide insight and greater understanding into biological systems, their behavior, development, and origin. chapters of the first volume were written by leaders in their fields from the U.S. and Russia. material presented summarizes our current understanding of space and its exploration. We understand that the first volume will be of interest not only to medical personnel and biologists, but also to general readers who want information about space beyond their own particular fields of expertise.",
    url = "https://openalex.org/W2988387100",
    openalex = "W2988387100"
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@article{openalexw1678269282,
    author = "Brin, G. D.",
    title = "The Great Silence - the Controversy Concerning Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life",
    year = "1983",
    journal = "Quarterly journal of the Royal Astronomical Society",
    openalex = "W1678269282"
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@misc{jackson1987life1,
    author = "Jackson, F. and Moore, P",
    title = "Life in the Universe",
    year = "1987",
    howpublished = "New York, Norton",
    note = "talkorigins\_source = {true}; raw\_reference = {Jackson, F., and Moore, P., 1987, Life in the Universe: New York, Norton.}"
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From the Publisher: This enthralling book alerts us to nothing less than the existence of new varieties of life. Some of these species can move and eat, see, reproduce, and die. Some behave like birds or ants. One such life form may turn out to be our best weapon in the war against AIDS. What these species have in common is that they exist inside computers, their DNA is digital, and they have come into being not through God's agency but through the efforts of a generation of scientists who seek to create life in silico. But even as it introduces us to these brilliant heretics and unravels the intricacies of their work. Artificial Life examines its subject's dizzying philosophical implications: Is a self-replicating computer program any less alive than a flu virus? Are carbon-and-water-based entities merely part of the continuum of living things? And is it possible that one day a-life will look back at human beings and dismiss us as an evolutionary way station — or, worse still, a dead end?

@book{openalexw1576415916,
    author = "Levy, Steven",
    title = "Artificial Life: A Report from the Frontier Where Computers Meet Biology",
    year = "1993",
    abstract = "From the Publisher: This enthralling book alerts us to nothing less than the existence of new varieties of life. Some of these species can move and eat, see, reproduce, and die. Some behave like birds or ants. One such life form may turn out to be our best weapon in the war against AIDS. What these species have in common is that they exist inside computers, their DNA is digital, and they have come into being not through God's agency but through the efforts of a generation of scientists who seek to create life in silico. But even as it introduces us to these brilliant heretics and unravels the intricacies of their work. Artificial Life examines its subject's dizzying philosophical implications: Is a self-replicating computer program any less alive than a flu virus? Are carbon-and-water-based entities merely part of the continuum of living things? And is it possible that one day a-life will look back at human beings and dismiss us as an evolutionary way station — or, worse still, a dead end?",
    openalex = "W1576415916"
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@book{crossref1998exobiology,
    title = "Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe",
    year = "1998",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5056-9",
    doi = "10.1007/978-94-011-5056-9",
    openalex = "W2484875640"
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Contents Preface to the Paperback Edition Preface to the First Edition Introduction: The Astrobiology Revolution and the Rare Earth Hypothesis Dead Zones of the Universe Rare Earth Factors 1 Why Life Might Be Widespread in the Universe 2 Habitable Zones of the Universe 3 Building a Habitable Earth 4 Life's First Appearance on Earth 5 How to Build Animals 6 Snowball Earth 7 The Enigma of the Cambrian Explosion 8 Mass Extinctions and the Rare Earth Hypothesis 9 The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics 10 The Moon, Jupiter, and Life on Earth 11 Testing the Rare Earth Hypotheses 12 Assessing the Odds 13 Messengers from the Stars References Index

@article{doi10106311325239,
    author = "Ward, Peter D. and Brownlee, D. E. and Krauss, Lawrence M.",
    title = "Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe",
    year = "2000",
    journal = "Physics Today",
    abstract = "Contents Preface to the Paperback Edition Preface to the First Edition Introduction: The Astrobiology Revolution and the Rare Earth Hypothesis Dead Zones of the Universe Rare Earth Factors 1 Why Life Might Be Widespread in the Universe 2 Habitable Zones of the Universe 3 Building a Habitable Earth 4 Life's First Appearance on Earth 5 How to Build Animals 6 Snowball Earth 7 The Enigma of the Cambrian Explosion 8 Mass Extinctions and the Rare Earth Hypothesis 9 The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics 10 The Moon, Jupiter, and Life on Earth 11 Testing the Rare Earth Hypotheses 12 Assessing the Odds 13 Messengers from the Stars References Index",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1325239",
    doi = "10.1063/1.1325239",
    openalex = "W2024052562",
    references = "doi101006icar19931010, doi1010160016703794902887, doi1010160019103579901416, doi101017s0094837300009994, doi101017s009483730001263x, doi10102995rg00262, doi101029jc086ic10p09776, doi101038242032a0, doi101038336117a0, doi101038scientificamerican057580, doi101073pnas87124576, doi101098rstb19850096, doi101126science1173046528, doi101126science20844481095, doi101126science2224620163, doi101126science2464928339, doi101126science28153811342, doi1011300091761319950231079isbapo23co2, doi101144gsjgs14940631, doi101146annureves10110179001551, doi105281zenodo16238847, doi105281zenodo16490103, doi105860choice273873, doi105962bhltitle59991, fox1995thermal, morris1979the, openalexw2037503630, openalexw3047003507"
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@article{doi105860choice376250,
    title = "Rare earth: why complex life is uncommon in the universe",
    year = "2000",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.37-6250",
    doi = "10.5860/choice.37-6250",
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The assassin's bullet misses, the Archduke's carriage moves forward, and a catastrophic war is avoided. So too with the history of life. Re-run the tape of life, as Stephen J. Gould claimed, and the outcome must be entirely different: an alien world, without humans and maybe not even intelligence. The history of life is littered with accidents: any twist or turn may lead to a completely different world. Now this view is being challenged. Simon Conway Morris explores the evidence demonstrating life's almost eerie ability to navigate to a single solution, repeatedly. Eyes, brains, tools, even culture: all are very much on the cards. So if these are all evolutionary inevitabilities, where are our counterparts across the galaxy? The tape of life can only run on a suitable planet, and it seems that such Earth-like planets may be much rarer than hoped. Inevitable humans, yes, but in a lonely Universe.

@book{doi101017cbo9780511535499,
    author = "Morris, Simon Conway",
    title = "Life's Solution",
    year = "2003",
    booktitle = "Cambridge University Press eBooks",
    abstract = "The assassin's bullet misses, the Archduke's carriage moves forward, and a catastrophic war is avoided. So too with the history of life. Re-run the tape of life, as Stephen J. Gould claimed, and the outcome must be entirely different: an alien world, without humans and maybe not even intelligence. The history of life is littered with accidents: any twist or turn may lead to a completely different world. Now this view is being challenged. Simon Conway Morris explores the evidence demonstrating life's almost eerie ability to navigate to a single solution, repeatedly. Eyes, brains, tools, even culture: all are very much on the cards. So if these are all evolutionary inevitabilities, where are our counterparts across the galaxy? The tape of life can only run on a suitable planet, and it seems that such Earth-like planets may be much rarer than hoped. Inevitable humans, yes, but in a lonely Universe.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511535499",
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Given the fact that there are perhaps 400 billion stars in our Galaxy alone, and perhaps 400 billion galaxies in the Universe, it stands to reason that somewhere out there, in the 14-billion-year-old cosmos, there is or once was a civilization at least as advanced as our own. The sheer enormity of the numbers almost demands that we accept the truth of this hypothesis. Why, then, have we encountered no evidence, no messages, no artifacts of these extraterrestrials? In this second, significantly revised and expanded edition of his widely popular book, Webb discusses in detail the (for now!) 75 most cogent and intriguing solutions to Fermi's famous paradox: If the numbers strongly point to the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, why have we found no evidence of them?

@article{doi105860choice403987,
    title = "If the universe is teeming with aliens... where is everybody?: fifty solutions to the Fermi paradox and the problem of extraterrestrial life",
    year = "2003",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    abstract = "Given the fact that there are perhaps 400 billion stars in our Galaxy alone, and perhaps 400 billion galaxies in the Universe, it stands to reason that somewhere out there, in the 14-billion-year-old cosmos, there is or once was a civilization at least as advanced as our own. The sheer enormity of the numbers almost demands that we accept the truth of this hypothesis. Why, then, have we encountered no evidence, no messages, no artifacts of these extraterrestrials? In this second, significantly revised and expanded edition of his widely popular book, Webb discusses in detail the (for now!) 75 most cogent and intriguing solutions to Fermi's famous paradox: If the numbers strongly point to the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, why have we found no evidence of them?",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.40-3987",
    doi = "10.5860/choice.40-3987",
    openalex = "W560908667"
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@article{doi101016jcbpa200410003,
    author = "Benner, Steven A. and Ricardo, Alonso and Carrigan, Matthew A.",
    title = "Is there a common chemical model for life in the universe?",
    year = "2004",
    journal = "Current Opinion in Chemical Biology",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2004.10.003",
    doi = "10.1016/j.cbpa.2004.10.003",
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The Cambridge Sandwich 1. Looking for Easter Island 2. Can we break the great code? 3. Universal Goo: life as a cosmic principle? 4. The origin of life: straining the soup or our credulity? 5. Uniquely lucky? The strangeness of Earth 6. Converging on the extreme 7. Seeing convergence 8. Alien convergences? 9. The non-prevalence of humanoids? 10. Evolution bound: the ubiquity of convergence 11. Towards a theology of evolution 12. Last word.

@article{doi105860choice415285,
    title = "Life's solution: inevitable humans in a lonely universe",
    year = "2004",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    abstract = "The Cambridge Sandwich 1. Looking for Easter Island 2. Can we break the great code? 3. Universal Goo: life as a cosmic principle? 4. The origin of life: straining the soup or our credulity? 5. Uniquely lucky? The strangeness of Earth 6. Converging on the extreme 7. Seeing convergence 8. Alien convergences? 9. The non-prevalence of humanoids? 10. Evolution bound: the ubiquity of convergence 11. Towards a theology of evolution 12. Last word.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.41-5285",
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Definition of Life.- Origin of Life.- Lessons from the History of Life on Earth.- Energy Sources and Life.- Building Blocks of Life.- Life and the Need for a Solvent.- Habitats of Life.- Ideas of Exotic Forms of Life.- The Future and Fate of Living Systems.- Signatures of Life.- Life Detection-Past and Present.- Optimizing Space Exploration.

@article{doi105860choice425257,
    title = "Life in the universe: expectations and constraints",
    year = "2005",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    abstract = "Definition of Life.- Origin of Life.- Lessons from the History of Life on Earth.- Energy Sources and Life.- Building Blocks of Life.- Life and the Need for a Solvent.- Habitats of Life.- Ideas of Exotic Forms of Life.- The Future and Fate of Living Systems.- Signatures of Life.- Life Detection-Past and Present.- Optimizing Space Exploration.",
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Dedication Biodata of editors Preface by the editors Acknowledgements Group photograph and List of Attendees I. Opening Introduction to Life in the Universe T. Johnson The Abdus Salam Lecture H. Baltscheffsky The Beginning of Chemical Evolution Experiments S. Miller, J.L. Bada and A. Lazcano An Overview of Cosmic Evolution George V. Coyne Physical Phenomena underlying the Origin of Life Juan Perez-Mercader II. Where did the Chemical Elements Come From and When did Life Begin? The Origin of Biogenic Elements F. Matteucci and C. Chiappini Thermochemistry of the Dark Age D. Puy Searching for Oldest Life on Earth: A Progress Report S. Moorbath and B.S. Kamber The European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association Andre Brack III. Physical Constraints on the Origin of Life The Origin of Biomolecular Chirality Salam Hypothesis and The Role af Phase Transition in Amino Acids W. Wang, N. Yao, Y. Chen and P. Lai A Mechanism for the Prebiotic Emergence of Proteins H.P. De Vladar, R. Cipriani, B. Scharifker and J. Bubis Functional, Self-Referential Genetic Coding R.C. Guimaraes and C.H.C. Moreira Importance of Biased Synthesis in Chemical Evolution Studies A. Negron-Mendoza, S. Ramos-Bernal and F.G. Mosqueira When Did Information First Appear in the Universe J.G. Roederer IV. From the Miller Experiment to Chemical and Biological Evolution Prebiotic Organic Synthesis and the Emergence of Life L. Delaye, A. Becerra, A.M. Velasco, S. Islas and A. Lazcano Origin and Evolution of Very Early Sequence Motifs in Enzymes H. Baltscheffsky, B. Persson, A. Schultz, J.R. Perez-Castineira and M. Baltscheffsky The Lipid World: From Catalytic and Informational Headgroups to Micelle Replication and Evolution without Nucleic Acids A. Bar-Even, B. Shenhav, R. Kafri and D. Lancet Coenzymes in Evolution of the Rna World M.S. Kritsky, T.A. Telegina, T.A. Lyudnikova and Yu.L. Zemskova The Role of Heat in the Origin of Life P.R. Bahn, A. Pappelis and R. Grubbs A Possible Pathway for the Transfer of Chiral Bias from Extraterrestrial C_ Tetrasubstituted _-Amino Acids to Proteinogenic Amino Acids M. Crisma, A. Moretto, F. Formaggio, B. Kaptein, Q.B. Broxterman and C. Toniolo Prebiotic Polymerization of Amino Acids. A Makov Chain Approach F.G. Mosqueira, S. Ramos-Bernal and A. Negron-Mendoza The Electrochemical Reduction of Co2 to Formate in Hydrothermal Sulfide Ore Deposit as a Novel Source of Organic Matter M.G. Vladimirov, Yu.F. Ryzhkov, V.A. Alekseev, V.A. Bogdanovskaya, V.A. Otroshchenko and M.S. Kritsky Towards a Chronological Order of the Amino Acids W.J.M.F. Collis Origin and Evolution of Metabolic Pathways M. Brilli and R. Fani Conserved Oligopeptides in the Rubisco Large Chains P.B. Vidyasagar, P. Shil and S. Thomas On The Question of Convergent Evolution in Biochemistry A.A. Akindahunsi and J. Chela-Flores Diversity of Microbial Life on Earth and Beyond J. Seckbach V. Alternative Scenarios for the Origin and Evolution of Life Mineral Surfaces as a Cradle of Primordial Genetic Material E. Gallori, E. Biondi and M. Franchi Adsorption and Self-Organization of Small Molecules on Inorganic Surfaces D.G. Fraser Studies on Copper Chromicyanide as Prebiotic Catalyst Kamaluddin and S.R. Ali Phosphate Immobilization by Primitive Condensers F. De Souza-Barros, M.B.M. Monte, A.C.P. Duarte, J.A.P. Bonapace, M.R.D. Amaral Jr., R.B. Levigard, Y.A. Ching-San Jr., C.S. Costa and A. Vieyra Adsorption and Catalysis of Nucleotide Hydrolysis by Pyrite in Media Simulating Primeval Aqueous Environments A. Vieyra, A.C. Tessis, M. Pontes-Buarque, J.A.P. Bonapace, M. Monte, H.S. De Amorim and F. De Souza-Barros VI. Cosmological and Other Space Science Aspects of Astrobiology Dust and Planet Formation in the Early Universe G. Vladilo Quasar Absorption-Line Systems and Astrobiology G. Vladilo A New Search for Dyson Spheres in the Milky Way D. Minniti, F. Capponi, A. Valcarce and J. Gallardo Space Weather and Space Climate M. Messerotti VII. Planetary Exploration in our Solar System: The Interstellar Medium, Micro-Meteorites and Comets Spontaneous Generation of Amino Acid Structures in the Interstellar Medium U.J. Meierhenrich Experimental Study of the Degradation of Complex Organic Molecules. Application to the Origin of Extended Sources in Cometary Atmospheres N. Fray, Y. Benilan, H. Cottin, M.-C. Gazeau and F. Raulin Fate of Glycine During Collapse of Interstellar Clouds and Star Formation S.K. Chakrabarti, S. Chakrabarti and K. Acharyya Formation of Simplest Bio-Molecules during Collapse of an Interstellar Cloud K. Acharya, S. K. Chakrabarti and S. Chakrabarti Chemical Abundances of Cometary Meteoroids from Meteor Spectroscopy J.M. Trigo-Rodriguez, J. Llorca and J. Oro VIII. Earth Analogues of Extraterrestrial Ecosystems Viable Halobacteria from Ancient Oceans H. Stan-Lotter, C. Radax, S. Leuko, A. Legat, C. Gruber, M. Pfaffernhuemer, H. Wieland and G. Weidler Mars-Like Soils in the Yungay Area, the Driest Core of the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile R. Navarro-Gonzalez, F.A. Rainey, P. Molina, D.R. Bagaley, B.J. Hollen, J. De La Rosa, A.M. Small, R.C. Quinn, F.J. Grunthaner, L. Caceres, B. Gomez-Silva, A. Buch, R. Sternberg, P. Coll, F. Raulin and Ch.P. McKay The Discovery of Organics in Sub-Basement Fossil Soils Drilled in the North Pacific (Odp Leg 197): Their Model Formation and Implications for Astrobiology Research R. Bonaccorsi and R.L. Mancinelli Silica-Carbonate Biomorphs and the Implications for Identification of Microfossils A.M. Carnerup, S.T. Hyde, A-K. Larsson, A.G. Christy and J.M. Gracia-Ruiz Some Statistical Aspects Related to the Study of Treeline in Pico De Orizaba L. Cruz Kuri, C.P. McKay and R. Navarro-Gonzalez IX. On the Question of Life on Mars and on the Early Earth The Beagle 2 Lander and the Search for Traces of Life on Mars A. Brack, C.T. Pillinger and M.R. Sims Minimal Unit of Terraforming an Alternative for Remodelling Mars H.O. Pensado Diaz Early Archaean Life F. Westall Extraterrestrial Impacts on Earth and Extinction of Life in the Himalaya V.C. Tewari Palaeobiology and Biosedimentology of the Stromatolitic Buxa Dolomite, Ranjit Window, Sikkim, Ne Lesser Himalaya, India V.C. Tewari X. Searching for Extraterrestrial Life, Europa, Titan and Extrasolar Planets Searching for Extraterrestrial Life T. Owen Search for Bacterial Waste as a Possible Signature of Life on Europa A.B. Bhattacherjee and J. Chela-Flores Sulfate Volumes and the Fitness of Supcrt92 for Calculating Deep Ocean Chemistry S. Vance, E. Shock and T. Spohn The Case for Life Existing Outside of our Biosphere R.S. Gatta Application of Molecular Biology Techniques to Astrobiology R.S. Gatta and J. Chela-Flores Titan F. Raulin, J-P. Lebreton and T. Owen Chemical Characterization of Aerosols in Simulated Planetary Atmospheres S.I. Ramirez, R. Navarro-Gonzalez, P. Coll and F. Raulin Observation, Modeling and Experimental Simulation: Understanding Titan's Atmospheric Chemistry Using These Three Tools J.-M. Bernard, P. Coll, C.D. Pintassilgo, Y. Benilan, A. Jolly, G. Cernogora and F. Raulin Exobiology of Titan M. Simakov XI. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Seti-Italia S. Montebugnoli, J. Monari, C. Bortolotti, A. Cattani, A. Maccaferri, M. Poloni, A. Orlati, S. Righini, S. Poppi, M. Roma, M. Teodorani, C. Maccone, C. B. Cosmovici and N. D'Amico Seti on the Moon C. Maccone Proposing a United Nations Secretary General Seti International Advisory Board: G. Picco, G. Genta, P. Galeotti and D. Noventa Some Engineering Considerations on the Controversial Issue of Humanoids G. Genta XII. The Search for Evolution of Intelligent Behavior and Density of Life The New Universe, Destiny of Life, and the Cultural Implications S.J. Dick Evolution of Intelligent Behavior J. Chela-Flores Evolution of Language as Innate Mental Faculty K.T. Shah How Advanced is Et? P. Musso XIII. Epistemological and Historical Aspects of Astrobiology Chance or Design in the Origin of Living Beings R. Vicuna and A. Serani-Merlo Astrobiology and Biocentrism R. Aretxaga Analysis of the Works of the German Naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) on the Origin of Life F. Raulin-Cerceau A Reexamination of Alfonso Herrera's Sulfocyanic Theory on the Origin of Life E. Silva, L. Perezgasga, A. Lazcano and A. Negron-Mendoza Determinism and the Proteinoid Theory A. Pappelis and P.R. Bahn Glimpses of Trieste Conferences on Chemical Evolution and Origin of Life M.S. Chadha List of Participants Index

@article{doi101128microbe15892,
    title = "Life in the Universe: from the Miller Experiment to the Search for Life on Other Worlds",
    year = "2006",
    journal = "Microbe Magazine",
    abstract = "Dedication Biodata of editors Preface by the editors Acknowledgements Group photograph and List of Attendees I. Opening Introduction to Life in the Universe T. Johnson The Abdus Salam Lecture H. Baltscheffsky The Beginning of Chemical Evolution Experiments S. Miller, J.L. Bada and A. Lazcano An Overview of Cosmic Evolution George V. Coyne Physical Phenomena underlying the Origin of Life Juan Perez-Mercader II. Where did the Chemical Elements Come From and When did Life Begin? The Origin of Biogenic Elements F. Matteucci and C. Chiappini Thermochemistry of the Dark Age D. Puy Searching for Oldest Life on Earth: A Progress Report S. Moorbath and B.S. Kamber The European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association Andre Brack III. Physical Constraints on the Origin of Life The Origin of Biomolecular Chirality Salam Hypothesis and The Role af Phase Transition in Amino Acids W. Wang, N. Yao, Y. Chen and P. Lai A Mechanism for the Prebiotic Emergence of Proteins H.P. De Vladar, R. Cipriani, B. Scharifker and J. Bubis Functional, Self-Referential Genetic Coding R.C. Guimaraes and C.H.C. Moreira Importance of Biased Synthesis in Chemical Evolution Studies A. Negron-Mendoza, S. Ramos-Bernal and F.G. Mosqueira When Did Information First Appear in the Universe J.G. Roederer IV. From the Miller Experiment to Chemical and Biological Evolution Prebiotic Organic Synthesis and the Emergence of Life L. Delaye, A. Becerra, A.M. Velasco, S. Islas and A. Lazcano Origin and Evolution of Very Early Sequence Motifs in Enzymes H. Baltscheffsky, B. Persson, A. Schultz, J.R. Perez-Castineira and M. Baltscheffsky The Lipid World: From Catalytic and Informational Headgroups to Micelle Replication and Evolution without Nucleic Acids A. Bar-Even, B. Shenhav, R. Kafri and D. Lancet Coenzymes in Evolution of the Rna World M.S. Kritsky, T.A. Telegina, T.A. Lyudnikova and Yu.L. Zemskova The Role of Heat in the Origin of Life P.R. Bahn, A. Pappelis and R. Grubbs A Possible Pathway for the Transfer of Chiral Bias from Extraterrestrial C\_ Tetrasubstituted \_-Amino Acids to Proteinogenic Amino Acids M. Crisma, A. Moretto, F. Formaggio, B. Kaptein, Q.B. Broxterman and C. Toniolo Prebiotic Polymerization of Amino Acids. A Makov Chain Approach F.G. Mosqueira, S. Ramos-Bernal and A. Negron-Mendoza The Electrochemical Reduction of Co2 to Formate in Hydrothermal Sulfide Ore Deposit as a Novel Source of Organic Matter M.G. Vladimirov, Yu.F. Ryzhkov, V.A. Alekseev, V.A. Bogdanovskaya, V.A. Otroshchenko and M.S. Kritsky Towards a Chronological Order of the Amino Acids W.J.M.F. Collis Origin and Evolution of Metabolic Pathways M. Brilli and R. Fani Conserved Oligopeptides in the Rubisco Large Chains P.B. Vidyasagar, P. Shil and S. Thomas On The Question of Convergent Evolution in Biochemistry A.A. Akindahunsi and J. Chela-Flores Diversity of Microbial Life on Earth and Beyond J. Seckbach V. Alternative Scenarios for the Origin and Evolution of Life Mineral Surfaces as a Cradle of Primordial Genetic Material E. Gallori, E. Biondi and M. Franchi Adsorption and Self-Organization of Small Molecules on Inorganic Surfaces D.G. Fraser Studies on Copper Chromicyanide as Prebiotic Catalyst Kamaluddin and S.R. Ali Phosphate Immobilization by Primitive Condensers F. De Souza-Barros, M.B.M. Monte, A.C.P. Duarte, J.A.P. Bonapace, M.R.D. Amaral Jr., R.B. Levigard, Y.A. Ching-San Jr., C.S. Costa and A. Vieyra Adsorption and Catalysis of Nucleotide Hydrolysis by Pyrite in Media Simulating Primeval Aqueous Environments A. Vieyra, A.C. Tessis, M. Pontes-Buarque, J.A.P. Bonapace, M. Monte, H.S. De Amorim and F. De Souza-Barros VI. Cosmological and Other Space Science Aspects of Astrobiology Dust and Planet Formation in the Early Universe G. Vladilo Quasar Absorption-Line Systems and Astrobiology G. Vladilo A New Search for Dyson Spheres in the Milky Way D. Minniti, F. Capponi, A. Valcarce and J. Gallardo Space Weather and Space Climate M. Messerotti VII. Planetary Exploration in our Solar System: The Interstellar Medium, Micro-Meteorites and Comets Spontaneous Generation of Amino Acid Structures in the Interstellar Medium U.J. Meierhenrich Experimental Study of the Degradation of Complex Organic Molecules. Application to the Origin of Extended Sources in Cometary Atmospheres N. Fray, Y. Benilan, H. Cottin, M.-C. Gazeau and F. Raulin Fate of Glycine During Collapse of Interstellar Clouds and Star Formation S.K. Chakrabarti, S. Chakrabarti and K. Acharyya Formation of Simplest Bio-Molecules during Collapse of an Interstellar Cloud K. Acharya, S. K. Chakrabarti and S. Chakrabarti Chemical Abundances of Cometary Meteoroids from Meteor Spectroscopy J.M. Trigo-Rodriguez, J. Llorca and J. Oro VIII. Earth Analogues of Extraterrestrial Ecosystems Viable Halobacteria from Ancient Oceans H. Stan-Lotter, C. Radax, S. Leuko, A. Legat, C. Gruber, M. Pfaffernhuemer, H. Wieland and G. Weidler Mars-Like Soils in the Yungay Area, the Driest Core of the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile R. Navarro-Gonzalez, F.A. Rainey, P. Molina, D.R. Bagaley, B.J. Hollen, J. De La Rosa, A.M. Small, R.C. Quinn, F.J. Grunthaner, L. Caceres, B. Gomez-Silva, A. Buch, R. Sternberg, P. Coll, F. Raulin and Ch.P. McKay The Discovery of Organics in Sub-Basement Fossil Soils Drilled in the North Pacific (Odp Leg 197): Their Model Formation and Implications for Astrobiology Research R. Bonaccorsi and R.L. Mancinelli Silica-Carbonate Biomorphs and the Implications for Identification of Microfossils A.M. Carnerup, S.T. Hyde, A-K. Larsson, A.G. Christy and J.M. Gracia-Ruiz Some Statistical Aspects Related to the Study of Treeline in Pico De Orizaba L. Cruz Kuri, C.P. McKay and R. Navarro-Gonzalez IX. On the Question of Life on Mars and on the Early Earth The Beagle 2 Lander and the Search for Traces of Life on Mars A. Brack, C.T. Pillinger and M.R. Sims Minimal Unit of Terraforming an Alternative for Remodelling Mars H.O. Pensado Diaz Early Archaean Life F. Westall Extraterrestrial Impacts on Earth and Extinction of Life in the Himalaya V.C. Tewari Palaeobiology and Biosedimentology of the Stromatolitic Buxa Dolomite, Ranjit Window, Sikkim, Ne Lesser Himalaya, India V.C. Tewari X. Searching for Extraterrestrial Life, Europa, Titan and Extrasolar Planets Searching for Extraterrestrial Life T. Owen Search for Bacterial Waste as a Possible Signature of Life on Europa A.B. Bhattacherjee and J. Chela-Flores Sulfate Volumes and the Fitness of Supcrt92 for Calculating Deep Ocean Chemistry S. Vance, E. Shock and T. Spohn The Case for Life Existing Outside of our Biosphere R.S. Gatta Application of Molecular Biology Techniques to Astrobiology R.S. Gatta and J. Chela-Flores Titan F. Raulin, J-P. Lebreton and T. Owen Chemical Characterization of Aerosols in Simulated Planetary Atmospheres S.I. Ramirez, R. Navarro-Gonzalez, P. Coll and F. Raulin Observation, Modeling and Experimental Simulation: Understanding Titan's Atmospheric Chemistry Using These Three Tools J.-M. Bernard, P. Coll, C.D. Pintassilgo, Y. Benilan, A. Jolly, G. Cernogora and F. Raulin Exobiology of Titan M. Simakov XI. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Seti-Italia S. Montebugnoli, J. Monari, C. Bortolotti, A. Cattani, A. Maccaferri, M. Poloni, A. Orlati, S. Righini, S. Poppi, M. Roma, M. Teodorani, C. Maccone, C. B. Cosmovici and N. D'Amico Seti on the Moon C. Maccone Proposing a United Nations Secretary General Seti International Advisory Board: G. Picco, G. Genta, P. Galeotti and D. Noventa Some Engineering Considerations on the Controversial Issue of Humanoids G. Genta XII. The Search for Evolution of Intelligent Behavior and Density of Life The New Universe, Destiny of Life, and the Cultural Implications S.J. Dick Evolution of Intelligent Behavior J. Chela-Flores Evolution of Language as Innate Mental Faculty K.T. Shah How Advanced is Et? P. Musso XIII. Epistemological and Historical Aspects of Astrobiology Chance or Design in the Origin of Living Beings R. Vicuna and A. Serani-Merlo Astrobiology and Biocentrism R. Aretxaga Analysis of the Works of the German Naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) on the Origin of Life F. Raulin-Cerceau A Reexamination of Alfonso Herrera's Sulfocyanic Theory on the Origin of Life E. Silva, L. Perezgasga, A. Lazcano and A. Negron-Mendoza Determinism and the Proteinoid Theory A. Pappelis and P.R. Bahn Glimpses of Trieste Conferences on Chemical Evolution and Origin of Life M.S. Chadha List of Participants Index",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1128/microbe.1.589.2",
    doi = "10.1128/microbe.1.589.2",
    openalex = "W1674653443"
}

Abstract We discuss whether it is possible to test the universality of biology, a quest that is of paramount relevance for one of its most recent branches, namely astrobiology. We review this topic in terms of the relative roles played on the Earth biota by contingency and evolutionary convergence. Following the seminal contribution of Darwin, it is reasonable to assume that all forms of life known to us so far are not only terrestrial, but are descendants of a common ancestor that evolved on this planet at the end of a process of chemical evolution. We also raise the related question of whether the molecular events that were precursors to the origin of life on Earth are bound to occur elsewhere in the Universe, wherever the environmental conditions are similar to the terrestrial ones. We refer to ‘cosmic convergence’ as the possible occurrence elsewhere in the Universe of Earth-like environmental conditions. We argue that cosmic convergence is already suggested by observational data. The set of hypotheses for addressing the question of the universality of biology can be tested by future experiments that are feasible with current technology. We focus on landing on Europa and the broader implications of selecting the specific example of the right landing location. We have previously discussed the corresponding miniaturized equipment that is already in existence. The significance of these crucial points needs to be put into a wider scientific perspective, which is one of the main objectives of this review.

@article{doi101017s1473550407003795,
    author = "Chela-Flores, Julián",
    title = "Testing the universality of biology: a review",
    year = "2007",
    journal = "International Journal of Astrobiology",
    abstract = "Abstract We discuss whether it is possible to test the universality of biology, a quest that is of paramount relevance for one of its most recent branches, namely astrobiology. We review this topic in terms of the relative roles played on the Earth biota by contingency and evolutionary convergence. Following the seminal contribution of Darwin, it is reasonable to assume that all forms of life known to us so far are not only terrestrial, but are descendants of a common ancestor that evolved on this planet at the end of a process of chemical evolution. We also raise the related question of whether the molecular events that were precursors to the origin of life on Earth are bound to occur elsewhere in the Universe, wherever the environmental conditions are similar to the terrestrial ones. We refer to ‘cosmic convergence’ as the possible occurrence elsewhere in the Universe of Earth-like environmental conditions. We argue that cosmic convergence is already suggested by observational data. The set of hypotheses for addressing the question of the universality of biology can be tested by future experiments that are feasible with current technology. We focus on landing on Europa and the broader implications of selecting the specific example of the right landing location. We have previously discussed the corresponding miniaturized equipment that is already in existence. The significance of these crucial points needs to be put into a wider scientific perspective, which is one of the main objectives of this review.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550407003795",
    doi = "10.1017/s1473550407003795",
    openalex = "W2046025631",
    references = "doi101017cbo9780511535499, doi1010371089268082100, doi101038416401a, doi101038416403a, doi101126science1123539, doi101128microbe15892, doi1023072260026, doi1023073102860, doi105860choice273873, doi105860choice415285, openalexw1531938074"
}

@article{crossref2009life,
    title = "Life in the universe: the abundance of extraterrestrial civilizations",
    year = "2009",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.46-6176",
    doi = "10.5860/choice.46-6176",
    number = "11",
    openalex = "W4229823969",
    pages = "46-6176-46-6176",
    volume = "46"
}

Studies of the origins of life are closely interwoven with exobiology (Raulin-Cerceau et al., 1998). It is highly probable that the full range of conditions present on Earth since its formation are present elsewhere. On a virtual trip through the Universe, we would travel not only in space, but also back in time into the Earth's biological history. The search for past, dormant or currently existing extraterrestrial life is one of the most thought-provoking challenges for biology. It is based on the certainty that liquid water and other key chemical and physical environmental conditions for the development of living organisms, as we know them, were, or are, present elsewhere in the Universe than on our planet. Any evidence of extraterrestrial life, from Mars sample analysis for example, would be of major interest for all biology. It would contribute to an understanding not only of the definition and origin of life, but also of the evolution and adaptation of molecular mechanisms in living cells, or of how organisms adapt and develop within ecosystems.

@incollection{doi101017cbo9780511933875026,
    author = "Zaccaı̈, Giuseppe",
    title = "Molecular adaptations to life at high salt: lessons from Haloarcula marismortui",
    year = "2011",
    booktitle = "Cambridge University Press eBooks",
    abstract = "Studies of the origins of life are closely interwoven with exobiology (Raulin-Cerceau et al., 1998). It is highly probable that the full range of conditions present on Earth since its formation are present elsewhere. On a virtual trip through the Universe, we would travel not only in space, but also back in time into the Earth's biological history. The search for past, dormant or currently existing extraterrestrial life is one of the most thought-provoking challenges for biology. It is based on the certainty that liquid water and other key chemical and physical environmental conditions for the development of living organisms, as we know them, were, or are, present elsewhere in the Universe than on our planet. Any evidence of extraterrestrial life, from Mars sample analysis for example, would be of major interest for all biology. It would contribute to an understanding not only of the definition and origin of life, but also of the evolution and adaptation of molecular mechanisms in living cells, or of how organisms adapt and develop within ecosystems.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511933875.026",
    doi = "10.1017/cbo9780511933875.026",
    openalex = "W245241373"
}

All terrestrial organisms depend on nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), which use pyrimidine and purine nucleobases to encode genetic information. Carbon-rich meteorites may have been important sources of organic compounds required for the emergence of life on the early Earth; however, the origin and formation of nucleobases in meteorites has been debated for over 50 y. So far, the few nucleobases reported in meteorites are biologically common and lacked the structural diversity typical of other indigenous meteoritic organics. Here, we investigated the abundance and distribution of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs in formic acid extracts of 12 different meteorites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Murchison and Lonewolf Nunataks 94102 meteorites contained a diverse suite of nucleobases, which included three unusual and terrestrially rare nucleobase analogs: purine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6,8-diaminopurine. In a parallel experiment, we found an identical suite of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs generated in reactions of ammonium cyanide. Additionally, these nucleobase analogs were not detected above our parts-per-billion detection limits in any of the procedural blanks, control samples, a terrestrial soil sample, and an Antarctic ice sample. Our results demonstrate that the purines detected in meteorites are consistent with products of ammonium cyanide chemistry, which provides a plausible mechanism for their synthesis in the asteroid parent bodies, and strongly supports an extraterrestrial origin. The discovery of new nucleobase analogs in meteorites also expands the prebiotic molecular inventory available for constructing the first genetic molecules.

@article{doi101073pnas1106493108,
    author = "Callahan, Michael P. and Smith, Karen E. and Cleaves, Henderson James and Růžička, Josef and Stern, J. C. and Glavin, D. P. and House, Christopher H. and Dworkin, Jason P.",
    title = "Carbonaceous meteorites contain a wide range of extraterrestrial nucleobases",
    year = "2011",
    journal = "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences",
    abstract = "All terrestrial organisms depend on nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), which use pyrimidine and purine nucleobases to encode genetic information. Carbon-rich meteorites may have been important sources of organic compounds required for the emergence of life on the early Earth; however, the origin and formation of nucleobases in meteorites has been debated for over 50 y. So far, the few nucleobases reported in meteorites are biologically common and lacked the structural diversity typical of other indigenous meteoritic organics. Here, we investigated the abundance and distribution of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs in formic acid extracts of 12 different meteorites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Murchison and Lonewolf Nunataks 94102 meteorites contained a diverse suite of nucleobases, which included three unusual and terrestrially rare nucleobase analogs: purine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6,8-diaminopurine. In a parallel experiment, we found an identical suite of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs generated in reactions of ammonium cyanide. Additionally, these nucleobase analogs were not detected above our parts-per-billion detection limits in any of the procedural blanks, control samples, a terrestrial soil sample, and an Antarctic ice sample. Our results demonstrate that the purines detected in meteorites are consistent with products of ammonium cyanide chemistry, which provides a plausible mechanism for their synthesis in the asteroid parent bodies, and strongly supports an extraterrestrial origin. The discovery of new nucleobase analogs in meteorites also expands the prebiotic molecular inventory available for constructing the first genetic molecules.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1106493108",
    doi = "10.1073/pnas.1106493108",
    openalex = "W2008349049",
    references = "doi101016001670379490121x, doi101016jepsl200803026, doi101038228923a0, doi101038343033a0, doi10103838460, doi101038418214a, doi101038nature01499, doi101039b103775g, doi101073pnas0912157107, doi105860choice264478"
}

Preface. Section 1: General Overview. Cosmic Evolution, Life and Man J. Oro. Experimental Retracement of Terrestrial Origin of an Excitable Cell: Was it Predictable? S.W. Fox, et al. Section 2: Origins. Cosmology: The Universe in Evolution G. Coyne, S.J. From Cosmic Formation of Chiral Bioorganics in Interstellar Dust to Comet Seeds of Life's Origins: Are 1025 Chances Enough? J.M. Greenberg, A. Li. Strategies for the Search of Life in the Universe J. Schneider. Section 3: From Geophysics to Prebiotic Chemistry. Age of the Isua Supracrustal Sequence of West Greenland: A Possible Repository for Early Life S. Moorbath, M.J. Whitehouse. Clays as Prebiotic Catalyzers A. Negron-Mendoza, et al. Role of Transient and Stable Molecules in Chemical Evolution M. Chadha. Lightning Associated to Archean Volcanic Ash-Gas Clouds R. Navarro-Gonzalez, et al. Section 4: Physicochemical Aspects. Evolutionary, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects on the Bioenergetics of Inorganic Pyrophosphate (PPi) and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) H. Baltscheffsky, M. Baltscheffsky. Mineral Metal Sulphur Clusters as a Testbed for Studies of Evolutionary Continuity M.S. Kritsky, et al. Thermal Peptides as the Initial Genetic System A. Pappelis, S.W. Fox. The Origin of Nucleic Acids B. Prieur. The Origin of Fatty Acids B. Prieur. Section 5: Biophysical Aspects: General Problems. Oxygen and the Rapid Evolution of Life on Mars C.P. McKay. First Steps in Eukaryogenesis: Physical Phenomena in the Origin and Evolution of Chromosome Structure J. Chela-Flores. Biological Aspects of the Origin of Life: Open Questions in Eukaryogenesis J. Seckbach. Some Putative Living Fossils of the RNAWorld Might be of Recent Appearance M. Rizzotti. The Ideas of Cyril Ponnamperuma and Thermodynamics of Biological Evolution G.P. Gladyshev.. Boltzmann Dynamics on the Primitive Earth About 3.9 Billion Years Ago K. Matsuno. Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Open Systems L.N. Moiseeva. Section 6: Biophysical Aspects: Biomolecular Chirality. Determining the Physical Origin of Homochirality in Life D. Cline. Possible Role of Phosphoryl Group Excitation in Chemical Evolution J. Wu, et al. Amino Acid Chirality Breaking by N-Phosphorylation Y.-F. Zhao, P.-S. Cao. Ab Initio Calculation of Molecular Energies Including Parity Violating Interactions A. Bakasov, et al. Section 7: Evolutionary Aspects. Chemical Evolution and the Darwinian Revolution F.R. Eirich. La Grande Galerie de l'Evolution: The Only Museum in the World Entirely Devoted to Biological Evolution F. Raulin- Cerceau. Section 8: Information Theory. New Approaches in Mathematical Biology: Information Theory and Molecular Machines T.D. Schneider. Information- Processing Genes: Molecular Biology in the Computational Paradigm K.T. Shah. Section 9: Communication. Progress in Searches for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Radio Signals F. Drake. SETI from the Moon. A Case for a XXIst Century SETI-Dedicated Lunar Farside Crater J. Heidmann. Section 10: Instrumentation in Exobiology and Mars Exploration. In situ Exploration of Titan and Cometary Nucleus: Implication for Planetary Exobiology F. Raulin, et al. Looking for the Homochiral Signature of Life: The SETH Cigar A. MacDermott, et al. Strategy for the Detection of Bioorganic Compounds on Mars K. Koba

@book{openalexw585603373,
    author = "Ponnamperuma, Cyril and Flores, Julián Chela and Raulin, F.",
    title = "Chemical Evolution: Physics of the Origin and Evolution of Life: Proceedings of the Fourth Trieste Conference on Chemical Evolution, Trieste, Italy, 4-8 September 1995",
    year = "2011",
    journal = "Medical Entomology and Zoology",
    abstract = "Preface. Section 1: General Overview. Cosmic Evolution, Life and Man J. Oro. Experimental Retracement of Terrestrial Origin of an Excitable Cell: Was it Predictable? S.W. Fox, et al. Section 2: Origins. Cosmology: The Universe in Evolution G. Coyne, S.J. From Cosmic Formation of Chiral Bioorganics in Interstellar Dust to Comet Seeds of Life's Origins: Are 1025 Chances Enough? J.M. Greenberg, A. Li. Strategies for the Search of Life in the Universe J. Schneider. Section 3: From Geophysics to Prebiotic Chemistry. Age of the Isua Supracrustal Sequence of West Greenland: A Possible Repository for Early Life S. Moorbath, M.J. Whitehouse. Clays as Prebiotic Catalyzers A. Negron-Mendoza, et al. Role of Transient and Stable Molecules in Chemical Evolution M. Chadha. Lightning Associated to Archean Volcanic Ash-Gas Clouds R. Navarro-Gonzalez, et al. Section 4: Physicochemical Aspects. Evolutionary, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects on the Bioenergetics of Inorganic Pyrophosphate (PPi) and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) H. Baltscheffsky, M. Baltscheffsky. Mineral Metal Sulphur Clusters as a Testbed for Studies of Evolutionary Continuity M.S. Kritsky, et al. Thermal Peptides as the Initial Genetic System A. Pappelis, S.W. Fox. The Origin of Nucleic Acids B. Prieur. The Origin of Fatty Acids B. Prieur. Section 5: Biophysical Aspects: General Problems. Oxygen and the Rapid Evolution of Life on Mars C.P. McKay. First Steps in Eukaryogenesis: Physical Phenomena in the Origin and Evolution of Chromosome Structure J. Chela-Flores. Biological Aspects of the Origin of Life: Open Questions in Eukaryogenesis J. Seckbach. Some Putative Living Fossils of the RNAWorld Might be of Recent Appearance M. Rizzotti. The Ideas of Cyril Ponnamperuma and Thermodynamics of Biological Evolution G.P. Gladyshev.. Boltzmann Dynamics on the Primitive Earth About 3.9 Billion Years Ago K. Matsuno. Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Open Systems L.N. Moiseeva. Section 6: Biophysical Aspects: Biomolecular Chirality. Determining the Physical Origin of Homochirality in Life D. Cline. Possible Role of Phosphoryl Group Excitation in Chemical Evolution J. Wu, et al. Amino Acid Chirality Breaking by N-Phosphorylation Y.-F. Zhao, P.-S. Cao. Ab Initio Calculation of Molecular Energies Including Parity Violating Interactions A. Bakasov, et al. Section 7: Evolutionary Aspects. Chemical Evolution and the Darwinian Revolution F.R. Eirich. La Grande Galerie de l'Evolution: The Only Museum in the World Entirely Devoted to Biological Evolution F. Raulin- Cerceau. Section 8: Information Theory. New Approaches in Mathematical Biology: Information Theory and Molecular Machines T.D. Schneider. Information- Processing Genes: Molecular Biology in the Computational Paradigm K.T. Shah. Section 9: Communication. Progress in Searches for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Radio Signals F. Drake. SETI from the Moon. A Case for a XXIst Century SETI-Dedicated Lunar Farside Crater J. Heidmann. Section 10: Instrumentation in Exobiology and Mars Exploration. In situ Exploration of Titan and Cometary Nucleus: Implication for Planetary Exobiology F. Raulin, et al. Looking for the Homochiral Signature of Life: The SETH Cigar A. MacDermott, et al. Strategy for the Detection of Bioorganic Compounds on Mars K. Koba",
    url = "https://openalex.org/W585603373",
    openalex = "W585603373"
}

Abstract Although astrobiology is a science midway between the life and physical sciences, it has surprisingly remained largely disconnected from recent trends in certain branches of both life and physical sciences. We discuss potential applications to astrobiology of approaches that aim at integrating rather than reducing. Aiming at discovering how systems properties emerge has proved valuable in chemistry and in biology. The systems approach should also yield insights into astrobiology, especially concerning the ongoing search for alternative abodes for life. This is feasible since new data banks in the case of astrobiology – considered as a branch of biology – are of a geophysical/astronomical kind, rather than the molecular biology data that are used for questions related firstly, to genetics in a systems context and secondly, to biochemistry for solving fundamental problems, such as protein or proteome folding. By focusing on how systems properties emerge in astrobiology we consider the question: can life in the universe be interpreted as an emergent phenomenon? In the search for potential habitable worlds in our galactic sector with current space missions, extensive data banks of geophysical parameters of exoplanets are rapidly emerging. We suggest that it is timely to consider life in the universe as an emergent phenomenon that can be approached with methods beyond the science of chemical evolution – the backbone of previous research in questions related to the origin of life. The application of systems biology to incorporate the emergence of life in the universe is illustrated with a diagram for the familiar case of our own planetary system, where three Earth-like planets are within the habitable zone (HZ) of a G2 V (the complete terminology for the Sun in the Morgan–Keenan system) star. We underline the advantage of plotting the age of Earth-like planets against large atmospheric fraction of a biogenic gas, whenever such anomalous atmospheres are discovered in these worlds. A prediction is made as to the nature of the atmospheres of the planets that lie in the stellar HZs.

@article{doi101017s1473550412000262,
    author = "Chela-Flores, Julián",
    title = "From systems chemistry to systems astrobiology: life in the universe as an emergent phenomenon",
    year = "2012",
    journal = "International Journal of Astrobiology",
    abstract = "Abstract Although astrobiology is a science midway between the life and physical sciences, it has surprisingly remained largely disconnected from recent trends in certain branches of both life and physical sciences. We discuss potential applications to astrobiology of approaches that aim at integrating rather than reducing. Aiming at discovering how systems properties emerge has proved valuable in chemistry and in biology. The systems approach should also yield insights into astrobiology, especially concerning the ongoing search for alternative abodes for life. This is feasible since new data banks in the case of astrobiology – considered as a branch of biology – are of a geophysical/astronomical kind, rather than the molecular biology data that are used for questions related firstly, to genetics in a systems context and secondly, to biochemistry for solving fundamental problems, such as protein or proteome folding. By focusing on how systems properties emerge in astrobiology we consider the question: can life in the universe be interpreted as an emergent phenomenon? In the search for potential habitable worlds in our galactic sector with current space missions, extensive data banks of geophysical parameters of exoplanets are rapidly emerging. We suggest that it is timely to consider life in the universe as an emergent phenomenon that can be approached with methods beyond the science of chemical evolution – the backbone of previous research in questions related to the origin of life. The application of systems biology to incorporate the emergence of life in the universe is illustrated with a diagram for the familiar case of our own planetary system, where three Earth-like planets are within the habitable zone (HZ) of a G2 V (the complete terminology for the Sun in the Morgan–Keenan system) star. We underline the advantage of plotting the age of Earth-like planets against large atmospheric fraction of a biogenic gas, whenever such anomalous atmospheres are discovered in these worlds. A prediction is made as to the nature of the atmospheres of the planets that lie in the stellar HZs.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550412000262",
    doi = "10.1017/s1473550412000262",
    openalex = "W2147599478",
    references = "doi101017s1473550407003795"
}

Abstract There have been a number of hypotheses regarding abiogenesis, the ‘Metabolism First’ model and the ‘RNA World Hypothesis’ are two such examples. All theories on abiogenesis make a set of unstated assumptions with regard to the elemental make up of life or only apply the theory to a primitive earth model. This paper reviews current knowledge from the myriad of observations from a variety of scientific disciplines and applies generally understood thermodynamic reasoning to explain the formation of molecules known to be used by life. These arguments are used in this paper to construct a set of new hypotheses which govern universal abiogenesis. The intention of this paper is to show by the application of our known laws of science that life is the end sequence of events of the fundamental forces which affect the entire universe. From these events a new hypotheses on abiogenesis can be formulated. The hypotheses proposed by this paper are incorporated in many of the current theories of abiogenesis, either assumed or accepted but very rarely stated or explained. The proposed set of five hypotheses are: (1) any celestial mass that has a body of liquid water and therefore has access to energy will form at least the building blocks of life, if not life itself. (2) The major component of any life form anywhere in the universe will be H 2 O. (3) Any organism, anywhere in the universe, will be carbon-based. (4) All life in the universe will be composed of nucleic acid based molecules as its code for life. (5) The cell is the universal unit of life. Throughout this paper the background to the formulation of these hypotheses is discussed, as is the explanation of why these hypotheses are universal and not limited to an application of a primitive earth model. This set of hypotheses is also testable as any investigation of a celestial body which contains liquid water (e.g. Europa) will quickly provide evidence to prove or refute the proposed theory.

@article{doi101017s147355041200033x,
    author = "Palmer, Bret S.",
    title = "A review on the spontaneous formation of the building blocks of life and the generation of a set of hypotheses governing universal abiogenesis",
    year = "2012",
    journal = "International Journal of Astrobiology",
    abstract = "Abstract There have been a number of hypotheses regarding abiogenesis, the ‘Metabolism First’ model and the ‘RNA World Hypothesis’ are two such examples. All theories on abiogenesis make a set of unstated assumptions with regard to the elemental make up of life or only apply the theory to a primitive earth model. This paper reviews current knowledge from the myriad of observations from a variety of scientific disciplines and applies generally understood thermodynamic reasoning to explain the formation of molecules known to be used by life. These arguments are used in this paper to construct a set of new hypotheses which govern universal abiogenesis. The intention of this paper is to show by the application of our known laws of science that life is the end sequence of events of the fundamental forces which affect the entire universe. From these events a new hypotheses on abiogenesis can be formulated. The hypotheses proposed by this paper are incorporated in many of the current theories of abiogenesis, either assumed or accepted but very rarely stated or explained. The proposed set of five hypotheses are: (1) any celestial mass that has a body of liquid water and therefore has access to energy will form at least the building blocks of life, if not life itself. (2) The major component of any life form anywhere in the universe will be H 2 O. (3) Any organism, anywhere in the universe, will be carbon-based. (4) All life in the universe will be composed of nucleic acid based molecules as its code for life. (5) The cell is the universal unit of life. Throughout this paper the background to the formulation of these hypotheses is discussed, as is the explanation of why these hypotheses are universal and not limited to an application of a primitive earth model. This set of hypotheses is also testable as any investigation of a celestial body which contains liquid water (e.g. Europa) will quickly provide evidence to prove or refute the proposed theory.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/s147355041200033x",
    doi = "10.1017/s147355041200033x",
    openalex = "W2003391329",
    references = "doi101017s1473550407003795"
}

Abstract: In the redshift range 100,(1+z),137, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) had a temperature of 273–373 K (0–100 °C), allowing early rocky planets (if any existed) to have liquid water chemistry on their surface and be habitable, irrespective of their distance from a star. In the standardΛCDM cosmology, the first star-forming halos within our Hubble volume started collapsing at these redshifts, allowing the chemistry of life to possibly begin when the Universe was merely 10–17 million years old. The possibility of life starting when the average matter density was a million times bigger than it is today is not in agreement with the anthropic explanation for the low value of the cosmological constant.

@article{openalexw3098937371,
    author = "Loeb, Abraham",
    title = "4 The Habitable Epoch of the Early Universe",
    year = "2014",
    abstract = "Abstract: In the redshift range 100,(1+z),137, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) had a temperature of 273–373 K (0–100 °C), allowing early rocky planets (if any existed) to have liquid water chemistry on their surface and be habitable, irrespective of their distance from a star. In the standardΛCDM cosmology, the first star-forming halos within our Hubble volume started collapsing at these redshifts, allowing the chemistry of life to possibly begin when the Universe was merely 10–17 million years old. The possibility of life starting when the average matter density was a million times bigger than it is today is not in agreement with the anthropic explanation for the low value of the cosmological constant.",
    openalex = "W3098937371",
    references = "doi101016b9780128119402000113"
}

Many outstanding problems have been solved in biology and medicine for which scientists have been awarded prestigious prizes including the Nobel Prize, Lasker Award and Breakthrough Prizes in life sciences. These have been the fruits of years of basic research. From time to time, publications have appeared listing "unsolved" problems in biology. In this article, I ask the question whether it is possible to have such a list, if not a unique one, at least one that is analogous to the Millennium Prize in mathematics. My approach to finding an answer to this question was to gather views of leading biologists. I have also included my own views. Analysis of all the responses received over several years has convinced me that it is difficult, but not impossible, to have such a prize. Biology is complex and very interdisciplinary these days at times involving large numbers of teams, unlike mathematics, where Andrew Wiles spent seven years in complete isolation and secrecy solving Fermat's last theorem. Such an approach is simply not possible in biology. Still I would like to suggest that a similar prize can be established by a panel of distinguished scientists. It would be awarded to those who solved one of the listed problems in biology that warrant a verifiable solution. Despite many different opinions, I found that there is some commonality in the responses I received - I go on to discuss what these are and how they may impact future thinking.

@article{doi101016jpbiomolbio201502001,
    author = "Dev, Sukhendu B.",
    title = "Unsolved problems in biology—The state of current thinking",
    year = "2015",
    journal = "Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology",
    abstract = {Many outstanding problems have been solved in biology and medicine for which scientists have been awarded prestigious prizes including the Nobel Prize, Lasker Award and Breakthrough Prizes in life sciences. These have been the fruits of years of basic research. From time to time, publications have appeared listing "unsolved" problems in biology. In this article, I ask the question whether it is possible to have such a list, if not a unique one, at least one that is analogous to the Millennium Prize in mathematics. My approach to finding an answer to this question was to gather views of leading biologists. I have also included my own views. Analysis of all the responses received over several years has convinced me that it is difficult, but not impossible, to have such a prize. Biology is complex and very interdisciplinary these days at times involving large numbers of teams, unlike mathematics, where Andrew Wiles spent seven years in complete isolation and secrecy solving Fermat's last theorem. Such an approach is simply not possible in biology. Still I would like to suggest that a similar prize can be established by a panel of distinguished scientists. It would be awarded to those who solved one of the listed problems in biology that warrant a verifiable solution. Despite many different opinions, I found that there is some commonality in the responses I received - I go on to discuss what these are and how they may impact future thinking.},
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.02.001",
    doi = "10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.02.001",
    openalex = "W2010713322",
    references = "doi101016b9780128119402000113"
}

The tree of life is one of the most important organizing principles in biology(1). Gene surveys suggest the existence of an enormous number of branches(2), but even an approximation of the full scale of the tree has remained elusive. Recent depictions of the tree of life have focused either on the nature of deep evolutionary relationships(3-5) or on the known, well-classified diversity of life with an emphasis on eukaryotes(6). These approaches overlook the dramatic change in our understanding of life's diversity resulting from genomic sampling of previously unexamined environments. New methods to generate genome sequences illuminate the identity of organisms and their metabolic capacities, placing them in community and ecosystem contexts(7,8). Here, we use new genomic data from over 1,000 uncultivated and little known organisms, together with published sequences, to infer a dramatically expanded version of the tree of life, with Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya included. The depiction is both a global overview and a snapshot of the diversity within each major lineage. The results reveal the dominance of bacterial diversification and underline the importance of organisms lacking isolated representatives, with substantial evolution concentrated in a major radiation of such organisms. This tree highlights major lineages currently underrepresented in biogeochemical models and identifies radiations that are probably important for future evolutionary analyses.

@article{doi101038nmicrobiol201648,
    author = "Hug, Laura and Baker, Brett J. and Anantharaman, Karthik and Brown, Christopher T. and Probst, Alexander J. and Castelle, Cindy J. and Butterfield, Cristina N. and Hernsdorf, Alex W and Amano, Yuki and Ise, Kotaro and Suzuki, Yohey and Dudek, Natasha K. and Relman, David A. and Finstad, Kari and Amundson, Ronald and Thomas, Brian C. and Banfield, Jillian F.",
    title = "A new view of the tree of life",
    year = "2016",
    journal = "Nature Microbiology",
    abstract = "The tree of life is one of the most important organizing principles in biology(1). Gene surveys suggest the existence of an enormous number of branches(2), but even an approximation of the full scale of the tree has remained elusive. Recent depictions of the tree of life have focused either on the nature of deep evolutionary relationships(3-5) or on the known, well-classified diversity of life with an emphasis on eukaryotes(6). These approaches overlook the dramatic change in our understanding of life's diversity resulting from genomic sampling of previously unexamined environments. New methods to generate genome sequences illuminate the identity of organisms and their metabolic capacities, placing them in community and ecosystem contexts(7,8). Here, we use new genomic data from over 1,000 uncultivated and little known organisms, together with published sequences, to infer a dramatically expanded version of the tree of life, with Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya included. The depiction is both a global overview and a snapshot of the diversity within each major lineage. The results reveal the dominance of bacterial diversification and underline the importance of organisms lacking isolated representatives, with substantial evolution concentrated in a major radiation of such organisms. This tree highlights major lineages currently underrepresented in biogeochemical models and identifies radiations that are probably important for future evolutionary analyses.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.48",
    doi = "10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.48",
    openalex = "W2315521535",
    references = "doi101038nature12352, doi101038nature14447, doi101038nature14486, doi101038nrmicro3330, doi101073pnas82206955, doi101073pnas87124576, doi101093bioinformaticsbtl446, doi101093bioinformaticsbts252, doi101093nargkh340, doi101093nargkm864, doi101093nargks808, doi101109gce20105676129, doi101126science7542800"
}

UNLABELLED: Advances in planetary and space sciences, astrobiology, and life and cognitive sciences, combined with developments in communication theory, bioneural computing, machine learning, and big data analysis, create new opportunities to explore the probabilistic nature of alien life. Brought together in a multidisciplinary approach, they have the potential to support an integrated and expanded Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI (1)), a search that includes looking for life as we do not know it. This approach will augment the odds of detecting a signal by broadening our understanding of the evolutionary and systemic components in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), provide more targets for radio and optical SETI, and identify new ways of decoding and coding messages using universal markers. KEY WORDS: SETI-Astrobiology-Coevolution of Earth and life-Planetary habitability and biosignatures. Astrobiology 16, 661-676.

@article{doi101089ast20161536,
    author = "Cabrol, Nathalie A.",
    title = "Alien Mindscapes—A Perspective on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence",
    year = "2016",
    journal = "Astrobiology",
    abstract = "UNLABELLED: Advances in planetary and space sciences, astrobiology, and life and cognitive sciences, combined with developments in communication theory, bioneural computing, machine learning, and big data analysis, create new opportunities to explore the probabilistic nature of alien life. Brought together in a multidisciplinary approach, they have the potential to support an integrated and expanded Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI (1)), a search that includes looking for life as we do not know it. This approach will augment the odds of detecting a signal by broadening our understanding of the evolutionary and systemic components in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), provide more targets for radio and optical SETI, and identify new ways of decoding and coding messages using universal markers. KEY WORDS: SETI-Astrobiology-Coevolution of Earth and life-Planetary habitability and biosignatures. Astrobiology 16, 661-676.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1536",
    doi = "10.1089/ast.2016.1536",
    openalex = "W2462580242",
    references = "doi101016jactaastro201112019"
}

Abstract Astrobiology is usually defined as the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the Universe. As such it is inherently interdisciplinary and cannot help but engender a worldview infused by cosmic and evolutionary perspectives. Both these attributes of the study of astrobiology are, and will increasingly prove to be, beneficial to society regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is discovered or not.

@article{doi101017s1473550417000088,
    author = "Crawford, Ian",
    title = "Widening perspectives: the intellectual and social benefits of astrobiology (regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is discovered or not)",
    year = "2017",
    journal = "International Journal of Astrobiology",
    abstract = "Abstract Astrobiology is usually defined as the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the Universe. As such it is inherently interdisciplinary and cannot help but engender a worldview infused by cosmic and evolutionary perspectives. Both these attributes of the study of astrobiology are, and will increasingly prove to be, beneficial to society regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is discovered or not.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550417000088",
    doi = "10.1017/s1473550417000088",
    openalex = "W2603960189",
    references = "doi101089ast20100476"
}

We estimate the relative likelihood of success in the searches for primitive versus intelligent life on other planets. Taking into account the larger search volume for detectable artificial electromagnetic signals, we conclude that both searches should be performed concurrently, albeit with significantly more funding dedicated to primitive life. Based on the current federal funding allocated to the search for biosignatures, our analysis suggests that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) may merit a federal funding level of at least $10 million per year, assuming that the average lifetime of technological species exceeds a millennium.

@article{doi101089ast20181936,
    author = "Lingam, Manasvi and Loeb, Abraham",
    title = "Relative Likelihood of Success in the Search for Primitive versus Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life",
    year = "2018",
    journal = "Astrobiology",
    abstract = "We estimate the relative likelihood of success in the searches for primitive versus intelligent life on other planets. Taking into account the larger search volume for detectable artificial electromagnetic signals, we conclude that both searches should be performed concurrently, albeit with significantly more funding dedicated to primitive life. Based on the current federal funding allocated to the search for biosignatures, our analysis suggests that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) may merit a federal funding level of at least $10 million per year, assuming that the average lifetime of technological species exceeds a millennium.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2018.1936",
    doi = "10.1089/ast.2018.1936",
    openalex = "W2950514755",
    references = "doi101016jactaastro201112019"
}

Human Space exploration has created new challenges and new opportunities for science. Reaching beyond the Earth’s surface has raised the issue of the importance of gravity for the development and the physiology of biological systems, while giving scientists the tools to study the mechanisms of response and adaptation to the microgravity environment. As life has evolved under the constant influence of gravity, gravity affects biological systems at a very fundamental level. Owing to limited access to spaceflight platforms, scientists rely heavily on on-ground facilities that reproduce, to a different extent, microgravity or its effects. However, the technical constraints of counterbalancing the gravitational force on Earth add complexity to data interpretation. In-flight experiments are also not without their challenges, including additional stressors, such as cosmic radiation and lack of convection. It is thus extremely important in Space biology to design experiments in a way that maximizes the scientific return and takes into consideration all the variables of the chosen setup, both on-ground or on orbit. This review provides a critical analysis of current ground-based and spaceflight facilities. In particular, the focus was given to experimental design to offer the reader the tools to select the appropriate setup and to appropriately interpret the results.

@article{doi103390app11010068,
    author = "Ferranti, Francesca and Bianco, Marta Del and Pacelli, Claudia",
    title = "Advantages and Limitations of Current Microgravity Platforms for Space Biology Research",
    year = "2020",
    journal = "Applied Sciences",
    abstract = "Human Space exploration has created new challenges and new opportunities for science. Reaching beyond the Earth’s surface has raised the issue of the importance of gravity for the development and the physiology of biological systems, while giving scientists the tools to study the mechanisms of response and adaptation to the microgravity environment. As life has evolved under the constant influence of gravity, gravity affects biological systems at a very fundamental level. Owing to limited access to spaceflight platforms, scientists rely heavily on on-ground facilities that reproduce, to a different extent, microgravity or its effects. However, the technical constraints of counterbalancing the gravitational force on Earth add complexity to data interpretation. In-flight experiments are also not without their challenges, including additional stressors, such as cosmic radiation and lack of convection. It is thus extremely important in Space biology to design experiments in a way that maximizes the scientific return and takes into consideration all the variables of the chosen setup, both on-ground or on orbit. This review provides a critical analysis of current ground-based and spaceflight facilities. In particular, the focus was given to experimental design to offer the reader the tools to select the appropriate setup and to appropriately interpret the results.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.3390/app11010068",
    doi = "10.3390/app11010068",
    openalex = "W3114753755",
    references = "doi101007s0022101021710"
}

Life itself is a mystery, the how and when of life’s origin constitute a serious challenge to both religion and science. To the reasoning mind, the origination of life is an intellectual problem that needs intellectual resolution especially in the domains of science and religion. To this extent, some scientific assumptions and postulations concerning the origin of life and the universe are found in a number of theories such as evolution, biogenesis, and abiogenesis among others. Obviously, all these theories pose serious challenges to most religious beliefs including the notion of creationism. In this paper, the historical and critical analytic methods were used to document and evaluate the various religious responses on the subject. The paper posits that religious adherents should acquit themselves with authentic religious beliefs and integrate them with authentic scientific knowledge.

@article{doi1026858predestinasiv13i219325,
    author = "Ottuh, Peter O. O.",
    title = "Dialogue Concerning Life: Abiogenesis, Biogenesis Or Creationism: Religious Response",
    year = "2021",
    journal = "PREDESTINASI",
    abstract = "Life itself is a mystery, the how and when of life’s origin constitute a serious challenge to both religion and science. To the reasoning mind, the origination of life is an intellectual problem that needs intellectual resolution especially in the domains of science and religion. To this extent, some scientific assumptions and postulations concerning the origin of life and the universe are found in a number of theories such as evolution, biogenesis, and abiogenesis among others. Obviously, all these theories pose serious challenges to most religious beliefs including the notion of creationism. In this paper, the historical and critical analytic methods were used to document and evaluate the various religious responses on the subject. The paper posits that religious adherents should acquit themselves with authentic religious beliefs and integrate them with authentic scientific knowledge.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.26858/predestinasi.v13i2.19325",
    doi = "10.26858/predestinasi.v13i2.19325",
    openalex = "W3134980391",
    references = "doi101017s1473550416000100"
}

Abstract Discovering exoplanets and satellites in habitable zones within and beyond our solar system has sparked intrigue in planetary setting varieties that could support life. Based on our understanding of life on Earth, we can shed light on the origin, evolution, and future of Earth-like organisms in the galaxy and predict extinct or extant extraterrestrial life. Hence, extremophiles thriving in mimic outer space environments are particularly interesting as they exhibit traits that preponderate our comprehension regarding the possibility of life elsewhere and in situ life detection. Additionally, many extremophiles have been used for astrobiological research model organisms to unveil native alien life or possible life-produced metabolites outside Earth. Laboratory-based simulation chambers mimic this outer space condition, helping researchers study life beyond Earth in near identical conditions and understand molecular mechanisms for survival. This review summarizes relevant studies with isolated microorganisms from extreme analog Earth environments, harnessing them as promising astrobiological model candidates for pursuing life potentialities in other planetary bodies. We also highlight the necessity of environmental simulation chamber approaches for mimicking extraterrestrial habitats.

@article{doi101007s41745023003829,
    author = "Schultz, Júnia and dos Santos, Alef and Patel, Niketan and Rosado, Alexandre Soares",
    title = "Life on the Edge: Bioprospecting Extremophiles for Astrobiology",
    year = "2023",
    journal = "Journal of the Indian Institute of Science",
    abstract = "Abstract Discovering exoplanets and satellites in habitable zones within and beyond our solar system has sparked intrigue in planetary setting varieties that could support life. Based on our understanding of life on Earth, we can shed light on the origin, evolution, and future of Earth-like organisms in the galaxy and predict extinct or extant extraterrestrial life. Hence, extremophiles thriving in mimic outer space environments are particularly interesting as they exhibit traits that preponderate our comprehension regarding the possibility of life elsewhere and in situ life detection. Additionally, many extremophiles have been used for astrobiological research model organisms to unveil native alien life or possible life-produced metabolites outside Earth. Laboratory-based simulation chambers mimic this outer space condition, helping researchers study life beyond Earth in near identical conditions and understand molecular mechanisms for survival. This review summarizes relevant studies with isolated microorganisms from extreme analog Earth environments, harnessing them as promising astrobiological model candidates for pursuing life potentialities in other planetary bodies. We also highlight the necessity of environmental simulation chamber approaches for mimicking extraterrestrial habitats.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-023-00382-9",
    doi = "10.1007/s41745-023-00382-9",
    openalex = "W4377138689",
    references = "doi10100797894007648801"
}

Developing and validating a perspective scale of a student’s acceptance or rejection of the evolution and abiogenesis theories regarding the origin of life and biodiversity is potentially significant, particularly considering the importance of these theories in the biology curriculum. Existing instruments, by their nature, may not allow us to fully understand student perspectives on complex and comprehensive biological theories. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to identify belief-based perspectives that significantly influence the acceptance or rejection of these theories, in addition to students’ perspectives on the theories of abiogenesis and evolution. In this context, we believe that a developed instrument can provide additional evidence to researchers who seek to integrate the information obtained from students’ perspectives into educational practices. This article explains the development and validation of the Perspective Scale on the Origin of Life and Biodiversity (PSOLB), a 25-item Likert scale instrument designed to assess students’ belief-based perspectives on the origin of life and biodiversity. Moreover, the potential contributions and significance of the research findings for pedagogical research and practices are emphasised, along with recommendations for the future use of the scale.

@article{doi1010800021926620242420013,
    author = "Yeşilyurt, Selâmi",
    title = "Development and validation of the Perspective Scale on the Origin of Life and Biodiversity (PSOLB)",
    year = "2024",
    journal = "Journal of Biological Education",
    abstract = "Developing and validating a perspective scale of a student’s acceptance or rejection of the evolution and abiogenesis theories regarding the origin of life and biodiversity is potentially significant, particularly considering the importance of these theories in the biology curriculum. Existing instruments, by their nature, may not allow us to fully understand student perspectives on complex and comprehensive biological theories. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to identify belief-based perspectives that significantly influence the acceptance or rejection of these theories, in addition to students’ perspectives on the theories of abiogenesis and evolution. In this context, we believe that a developed instrument can provide additional evidence to researchers who seek to integrate the information obtained from students’ perspectives into educational practices. This article explains the development and validation of the Perspective Scale on the Origin of Life and Biodiversity (PSOLB), a 25-item Likert scale instrument designed to assess students’ belief-based perspectives on the origin of life and biodiversity. Moreover, the potential contributions and significance of the research findings for pedagogical research and practices are emphasised, along with recommendations for the future use of the scale.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2024.2420013",
    doi = "10.1080/00219266.2024.2420013",
    openalex = "W4404012620",
    references = "doi101017s1473550416000100"
}

An enduring question in astrobiology is how we assess extraterrestrial environments as being suitable for life. We suggest that the most reliable assessments of the habitability of extraterrestrial environments are made with respect to the empirically determined limits to known life. We discuss qualitatively distinct categories of habitability: empirical habitability that is constrained by the observed limits to biological activity; habitability sensu stricto, which is defined with reference to the known or unknown limits to the activity of all known organisms; and habitability sensu lato (habitability in the broadest sense), which is circumscribed by the limit of all possible life in the universe, which is the most difficult (and perhaps impossible) to determine. We use the cloud deck of Venus, which is temperate but incompatible with known life, as an example to elaborate and hypothesize on these limits.

@article{doi101089ast20230106,
    author = "Cockell, Charles S and Hallsworth, John E and McMahon, Sean and Kane, Stephen R and Higgins, Peter M",
    title = "The Concept of Life on Venus Informs the Concept of Habitability.",
    year = "2024",
    journal = "Astrobiology",
    abstract = "An enduring question in astrobiology is how we assess extraterrestrial environments as being suitable for life. We suggest that the most reliable assessments of the habitability of extraterrestrial environments are made with respect to the empirically determined limits to known life. We discuss qualitatively distinct categories of habitability: empirical habitability that is constrained by the observed limits to biological activity; habitability sensu stricto, which is defined with reference to the known or unknown limits to the activity of all known organisms; and habitability sensu lato (habitability in the broadest sense), which is circumscribed by the limit of all possible life in the universe, which is the most difficult (and perhaps impossible) to determine. We use the cloud deck of Venus, which is temperate but incompatible with known life, as an example to elaborate and hypothesize on these limits.",
    url = "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38800952/",
    doi = "10.1089/ast.2023.0106",
    openalex = "W4399048354",
    pmid = "38800952",
    references = "doi101006icar19931010, doi1010160019103578900532, doi1010160019103579901416, doi101016jcbpa200410003, doi101038ismej2014219, doi101038nmicrobiol201648, doi101038nrmicro1264, doi101073pnas0400522101, doi1010880004637x7652131, doi101128jb17724705070591995"
}