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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1973

Frequency of heavy ions in space and their biologically important characteristics.

A review of the galactic cosmic ray energy spectra of heavy ions with Z< or = 28 is presented. Fluxes of these ions within critical body organs of astronauts travelling outside the magnetosphere will be modified from the free space values by fragmentation within the spacecraft and the bodies of the astronauts themselves. The effects of such fragmentation are presented in terms of variations in the particle flux above a given dE/dx at representative depths. Present limitations to the accuracy of such calculations are considered. The validity of dE/dx as a relevant physical parameter for characterizing the biologically important component of the heavy ion radiation environment is discussed.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed2006

Prebiotic homochirality as a critical phenomenon.

The development of prebiotic homochirality on early-Earth or another planetary platform may be viewed as a critical phenomenon. It is shown, in the context of spatio-temporal polymerization reaction networks, that environmental effects--be they temperature surges or other external disruptions--may destroy any net chirality previously produced. In order to understand the emergence of prebiotic homochirality it is important to model the coupling of polymerization reaction networks to different planetary environments.

Evolution, Chemical↗
PubMed1988

Prediction of physical workload in reduced gravity.

As we plan for long-term living and working in low-gravity environments, a system to predict mission support requirements, such as food and water, becomes critical. Such a system must consider the workload imposed by physical tasks for efficient estimation of these supplies. An accurate estimate of human energy expenditure on a space station or lunar base is also necessary to allocate personnel to tasks, and to assign work-rest schedules. An elemental analysis approach for predicting one's energy expenditure in industrial jobs was applied to low-gravity conditions in this paper. This was achieved by a reduction of input body and load weights in a well-accepted model, in proportion to lowered gravity, such as on the moon. Validation was achieved by applying the model to Apollo-era energy expenditure data. These data were from simulated lunar gravity walking studies, observed Apollo 14 walking, simulated lunar gravity upper body torquing, and simulated lunar gravity cart pulling. The energy expenditure model generally underpredicted high energy expenditures, and overpredicted low to medium energy expenditures. The predictions for low to medium workloads were, however, within 15-30% of actual values. Future developmental work will be necessary to include the effects of traction changes, as well as other nonlinear expenditure changes in reduced gravity environments.

Energy Metabolism↗
PubMed2005

Extreme life on Earth--past, present and possibly beyond.

Life may have been present on Earth since about 3.8 billion years ago or earlier. Multidisciplinary research, especially on the paleobiology and evolution of early microorganisms on Earth and the microbiology of extremophiles in the Earth's environments and under space conditions, enables the defining of strategies for the detection of potential extraterrestrial life by determining biosignatures and the environmental envelope of life.

Archaea↗
PubMed1987

The biological clock of Chlamydomonas reinhardii in space.

The overt circadian rhythm in a wildtype (wt+) and a short period (s-) strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardii has been studied in space using the photoaccumulation behavior as the recorded parameter. The period of the wt+ was 29.6 h, of the s- 21.4 h and did not deviate significantly from ground controls performed exactly at the same time. The phase was delayed in space by 4.2 h in the wt+, but was not altered in the s-. In both strains the amplitudes were significantly higher in space than in the ground controls. During the recording period of 6.5 days the cell density increased in both strains. The survival rate, i.e. the ability to form colonies on agar petri dishes, was higher in space than on ground. The period was in both strains by 1.1 h longer in Florida (Kennedy Space Center) in both the flight and the control samples than in Europe. The significance of these results is discussed with respect to the endogenous nature of the biological clock and the role of the microgravity environment.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1997

The origin of low mass stars.

Recent evidence indicates that most low mass stars in the Galaxy (< 5 M [symbol: see text]) form alongside massive stars in clusters embedded in giant molecular clouds. Once their parental gas is removed, the fate of these clusters is to disperse and blend into the field population of the galactic disk. The distribution of stellar masses in the solar neighborhood, called the Initial Mass Function, is discussed in the context of the origin of low mass stars. Arguments based on the production rate of field stars are presented that point to giant molecular clouds as the primary birth sites for low mass stars. The role of observations of molecular clouds at millimeter and infrared wavelengths in confirming this picture is reviewed. Millimeter-wave observations have revealed that molecular clouds consist of low-density gas interspersed with high-density cores. Near-infrared images of these clouds indicate that stars form preferentially in these cores, with the number of young stars roughly scaling with the mass of the core. Molecular-line and near-infrared observations which characterize star formation in the nearest giant molecular cloud complex in Orion are presented. The implications for the Sun forming in a cluster environment are briefly discussed.

Astronomical Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

On the search for extant life on Mars.

Proposals for continuing the search for extant life on Mars are primarily predicated on the assumption that specialized environmental niches that could support a biota may exist on the planet. Before attempting any critical tests for extant organisms, either in situ or on returned samples, it is imperative to determine whether any such sites actually exist. If, through remote sensing and landed instrumentation, sites of potential biological interest are discovered and characterized, biological tests can then more effectively be planned to elicit the presence of organisms that are adapted to living in these particular environments.

Cold Climate↗
PubMed2001

Location and sampling of aqueous and hydrothermal deposits in martian impact craters.

Do large craters on Mars represent sites that contain aqueous and hydrothermal deposits that provide clues to astrobiological processes? Are these materials available for sampling in large craters? Several lines of evidence strongly support the exploration of large impact craters to study deposits important for astrobiology. The great depth of impact craters, up to several kilometers relative to the surrounding terrain, can allow the breaching of local aquifers, providing a source of water for lakes and hydrothermal systems. Craters can also be filled with water from outflow channels and valley networks to form large lakes with accompanying sedimentation. Impact melt and uplifted basement heat sources in craters > 50 km in diameter should be sufficient to drive substantial hydrothermal activity and keep crater lakes from freezing for thousands of years, even under cold climatic conditions. Fluid flow in hydrothermal systems is focused at the edges of large planar impact melt sheets, suggesting that the edge of the melt sheets will have experienced substantial hydrothermal alteration and mineral deposition. Hydrothermal deposits, fine-grained lacustrine sediments, and playa evaporite deposits may preserve evidence for biogeochemical processes that occurred in the aquifers and craters. Therefore, large craters may represent giant Petri dishes for culturing preexisting life on Mars and promoting biogeochemical processes. Landing sites must be identified in craters where access to the buried lacustrine sediments and impact melt deposits is provided by processes such as erosion from outflow channels, faulting, aeolian erosion, or excavation by later superimposed cratering events. Very recent gully formation and small impacts within craters may allow surface sampling of organic materials exposed only recently to the harsh oxidizing surface environment.

Exobiology↗