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PubMedDate not supplied

Origin of amphiphilic molecules and their role in primary structure formation.

Attempts to solve two fundamental questions are described: the first concerns which mechanisms were responsible for the self-assembly of membrane structures on the prebiotic Earth, and the second concerns the routes by which considerable amounts of membrane amphiphiles formed from simpler hydrocarbons. The physicochemical properties of several amphiphilic compounds extracted from the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite were studied, using infra-red and fluorescent spectroscopy, measurements of surface activity, chromato-mass spectrometry, and polarization and electron microscopy. The results supported previous observations that amphiphilic and aromatic hydrocarbons were present in significant quantities, and the first demonstration of surface activity among a number of acidic derivatives of hydrocarbons is reported. In addition, one fraction of the surface-active compounds can form bilayer structures, showing that membranes could have self-assembled on the prebiotic Earth. Photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons is shown to be a likely source of the amphiphilic molecules required for the self-assembly of primary membrane structures.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed1989

The case for extraterrestrial causes of extinction.

The dramatic increase in our knowledge of large-body impacts that have occurred in Earth's history has led to strong arguments for the plausibility of meteorite impact as a cause of extinction. Proof of causation is often hampered, however, by our inability to demonstrate the synchronism of specific impacts and extinctions. A central problem is range truncation: the last reported occurrences of fossil taxa generally underestimate the true times of extinction. Range truncation, because of gaps in sedimentation, lack of preservation, or lack of discovery, can make sudden extinctions appear gradual and gradual extinctions appear sudden. Also, stepwise extinction may appear as an artefact of range truncation. These effects are demonstrated by experiments performed on data from field collections of Cretaceous ammonities from Zumaya (Spain). The challenge for future research is to develop a new calculus for treating biostratigraphic data so that fossils can provide more accurate assessments of the timing of extinctions.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Infrared emission from comets.

A brief discussion of the infrared observations from 4 to 20 micrometers of seven comets is presented. The observed infrared emission from comets depends primarily on their heliocentric distance. A model based on grain populations composed of a mixture of silicate and amorphous carbon particles in the mass ratio of about 40 to 1, with a power-law size distribution similar to that inferred for comet Halley, is applied to the observations. The model provides a good match to the observed heliocentric variation of both the 10 micrometers feature and the overall thermal emission from comets West and Halley. Matches to the observations of comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock and the antitail of comet Kohoutek require slightly larger grains. While the model does not match the exact profile and position of the 3.4 micrometers feature discovered in comet Halley, it does produce a qualitative fit to the observed variation of the feature's strength as a function of heliocentric distance. The calculations predict that the continuum under the 3.4 micrometers feature is due primarily to thermal emission from the comet dust when the comet is close to the Sun and to scattered solar radiation at large heliocentric distances, as is observed. A brief discussion of the determination of cometary grain temperatures from the observed infrared emission is presented. It is found that the observed shape of the emission curve from about 4 to 8 micrometers provides the best spectral region for estimating the cometary grain temperature distribution.

Astronomical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time travel and chemical evolution: a look at the outer solar system.

Many space scientists think that the chemical conditions today on planets and moons of the outer solar system are similar to conditions on Earth soon after it formed. If so, we can learn much about the chemistry that led to life on this planet. We can also speculate about exotic habitats that might have given rise to other types of life. And if we are able to discern the chemical reactions now occurring in the outer solar system, we may be able to extrapolate these rules to other solar systems, and so define the habitable zones around other stars where the potential for life is high.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1989

Experimental studies in the origin of life.

Modern astronomy suggests that planets are plentiful in the Universe and that the conditions suitable for life are commonplace. Advances in biochemistry have pointed out the unity of the biosphere and lead to the belief that all life had a common chemical origin. Laboratory experiments indicate that almost all the building blocks of life can be synthesized under simulated primitive Earth conditions. The analysis of meteorites and the study of the interstellar medium indicate that molecules of biological interest are commonplace in the Universe, thus leading to the conclusion that the evolutionary process which has taken place on Earth may have also occurred elsewhere in the cosmos leading to extraterrestrial civilisations.

Astronomical Phenomena↗
PubMed1992

Hydrogen cyanide polymerization: a preferred cosmochemical pathway.

Current research in cosmochemistry shows that crude organic solids of high molecular weight are readily formed in planetary, interplanetary and interstellar environments. Underlying much of this ubiquitous chemistry is a low energy route leading directly to the synthesis of hydrogen cyanide and its polymers. Evidence from laboratory and extraterrestrial investigations suggests that these polymers plus water yield heteropolypeptides, a truly universal process that accounts not only for the past synthesis of protein ancestors on Earth but also for reactions proceeding elsewhere today within our solar system, on planetary bodies and satellites around other stars and in the dusty molecular clouds of spiral galaxies. The existence of this preferred pathway - hydrogen cyanide polymerization - surely increases greatly the probability that carbon-based life is widespread in the universe.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1998

Past, present, and future life on Mars.

Although the Viking results indicated that the surface of Mars is dry and lifeless, there is direct geomorphological evidence that Mars had large amounts of liquid water on its surface in the past. From a biological perspective the existence of liquid water, by itself, motivates the question of the origin of life on Mars. One of the martian meteorites dates back to this early period and may contain evidence consistent with life. The Mars environment 3.5 to 4.0 Gyr ago was comparable to that on the Earth at this time in that both contained liquid water. Life had originated on Earth and reached a fair degree of biological sophistication by 3.5 Gyr ago. To determine if life similarly arose on Mars may require extensive robotic exploration and ultimately human exploration. Intensive exploration of Mars will require a continued presence on the Martian surface and the development of a self sustaining community in which humans can live and work for very long periods of time. A permanent Mars research station can obtain its life support requirements directly from the martian environment enabling a high degree of self-sufficiency. In the longer term, it is possible that in the future we might restore a habitable climate on Mars, returning it to the life-bearing state it may have enjoyed early in its history.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed1996

Origin of tektites: an alternative to terrestrial impact theory.

The Terrestrial Impact Theory (TIT) has won a complete victory over O'Keefe's lunar volcanic theory, but only because the Moon appears to be the wrong place for tektites. Indeed, the TIT ignores strong evidence of their volcanic origin--far from the Moon. The Extraterrestrial Volcanic Comet Theory proposes an alternative to both of these theories. Major arguments for an extraterrestrial tektite source are paradoxical: a great time difference between tektite formation and their arrival on Earth, and also forms, plastic deformations, ice collision marks, vacuum voids, etc. indicating specific conditions of tektite formation such as low gravitational field, lack of atmosphere, interaction of hot plastic tektites with ice, etc. Major evidence of volcanic origin includes: close analogy between shaped tektites and small volcanic bombs, and between layered tektites and lava or tuff-lava flows or huge bombs; analogy between flanged tektites and volcanic bombs ablated by gasjets: long-time, multistage formation of some tektites that corresponds to wide variations in their radiometric ages; well-ordered long compositional trends (series) typical of magmatic differentiation; different compositional tektite families (subseries) comparable to different stages (phases) of the volcanic process. Thus, different types of volcanic eruptions under extraterrestrial conditions could be reconstructed based on tektite properties. It is presumed that tektites were transported to the Earth by specific eruptive comets, i.e. in the form of ice-tektite agglomerates launched into space by volcanic explosion. Major arguments favouring comets include: ice collision marks and imprints as mentioned above; linear band-like sculpture of the Australasian strewn field as evidence of comet fragmentation and slope or skipping trajectory of separate fragments; compact coincidence of the Zhamanshin impact crater with small tektite strewn field as evidence of steep trajectory of separate comet fragments that disintegrated while entering the atmosphere. The comet-Earth collision under consideration happened 10,000 years ago and caused the global catastrophe marked by the sharp Pleistocene-Holocene boundary, i.e. by abrupt climatic changes, the end of glaciation, mass extinction, etc. This event can be compared with the "dinosaur" catastrophe at the K/T boundary 65 Ma, which was also accompanied by tektite fall.

Earth, Planet↗
PubMed1996

Impact process: an important geological phenomenon.

The impact process was for a long period of time, even after a wider acceptance among the geological community, considered to be a marginal phenomenon in the Earth sciences. The first decade or two have showed an importance of the process itself and consequent events only too clearly. The present paper is a review describing the history and development of the impact hypothesis, structure and origin of impact craters, influence of huge impacts on the living environment and other aspects of the impact process from the point of view of geology s.l.

Animals↗