Astrobiology

The definitions of life are extremely controversial . So begins a publication on the problem of the definition of life which appeared as late as 2004. This publication is written by three Spanish scientists from the Centre for Astrobiology (INTA/CSIC) in Madrid, the University of Valencia and the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian (Ruiz-Mirazo et al., 2004). Their general definition of life introduces two new terms into the discussion autonomy and open-ended evolution capacities . 

Clark B (2002) Second Astrobiology Conference, NASA-Ames Research Center http //www. 

Fig. 3.13 151 GHz Spectrum (excerpt) from the nucleus of the molecular cloud G 327.3-0.6 in the southern sky. The molecular species identified are shown. Peaks which are not labelled are not yet clearly identified. (The numbers used to label the molecular cloud, G 327.3-0.6, are galactic coordinates). With personal permission of Prof. Hjalmarsson, Chalmers University of Technology, Goteborg, Sweden, from the Proceedings of the First European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology, Frascati, 21-23 May 2001, ESA SP-496...

Although the terms exobiology and astrobiology really mean the same thing, astro-biology , introduced by NASA in 1995, has become the one of choice. This branch of science reaches from cosmochemistry via biogenesis to all the other themes involving research on traces of life (of whatever sort) on planets and on moons, both within and outside our solar system. 

Europe has a comparable institution, the European Exo/Astrobiology Network Association (EANA), which brings together national research activities, so that the coordination with other organisations (particularly in the USA) is more effective. The organisation has various specific objectives, including the following ... 

EANA was founded in May 2001, during the First European Workshop on Exo/ Astrobiology in Frascati, Italy, which was attended by 200 scientists (ESA, 2001). 

Astrobiological research is, however, not only concerned with the search for life on other heavenly bodies it also includes work on life forms in extreme habitats, in hydrothermal systems and, for example, in deep rock formations (Pedersen, 1997) (see Sect. 7.2.1). 

As the workshops on exo/astrobiology show, many groups in various countries are working together, using simulation experiments and theoretical techniques, to forecast and interpret the processes occurring on the Saturnian moon Titan. 

Brack A (2002) Water, the Spring of Fife. In Horneck G, Baum stark-Khan C (Eds.) Astrobiology. 

Doyle L, Deeg H-J, Brown TM (2000) Scientific American, September Dyson F (1985) Origins of Life, Cambridge University Press Ehrenfreund P, Rasmussen S, Cleaves J, Chen L (2006) Astrobiology 6 490 Eigen M, Winkler R (1993) The Laws of the Game How The Principles of Nature Govern Chance, Princeton University Press... 

Finster KW, Jensen A-M, Hansen A, Lomstein BA, Nprnberg P, Merrison JP (2002) Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology. Graz, Abstracts p 187 Fischer G, Dokano T, Macher D, Lammer H, Rucker HO (2002) Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology, Graz, Abstracts p 211... 

Sundstrand LJ (2002) Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology. Graz, Abstracts p 209... 

Chemistry without numbers is poetry astrochemistry without numbers is myth. A molecule placed around a star, in a nebula, lost in the interstellar medium, on a planet or within a cell has the potential for very complex and beautiful chemistry but unless we can understand the local conditions and how the molecule interacts with them we have no idea what chemistry is really happening. To understand astrochemistry we need to understand the physical conditions that occur within many diverse molecular environments. The exploration of the molecular universe will take us on a long journey through the wonders of astronomy to the new ideas of astrobiology... 

Our mission is to explore the molecular universe with an understanding of all of the local molecular environments and constrain possible chemical reactions using the concepts of physical chemistry. With such a wide brief we need a focus and I have chosen the origins of life on Earth and on all planets - astrobiology. 

Astrochemistry from astronomy to astrobiology. Andrew M. Shaw 2006 John Wiley Sons, Ltd... 

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