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Quot;nano" scale biosignatures and the search for extraterrestrial life
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Sugitani, K. Meibom, A. Robert, F. Allwood, A. Walter, M. R. Selo, M. Gibson, E. K. Oehler, D. Z. Mostefaoui, S. Mimura, K. |
| Copyright Year | 2008 |
| Description | A critical step in the search for remnants of potential life forms on other planets lies in our ability to recognize indigenous fragments of ancient microbes preserved in some of Earth's oldest rocks. To this end, we are building a database of nano-scale chemical and morphological characteristics of some of Earth's oldest organic microfossils. We are primarily using the new technology of Nano-Secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) which provides in-situ, nano-scale elemental analysis of trace quantities of organic residues. The initial step was to characterize element composition of well-preserved, organic microfossils from the late Proterozoic (0.8 Ga) Bitter Springs Formation of Australia. Results from that work provide morphologic detail and nitrogen/carbon ratios that appear to reflect the well-established biological origin of these 0.8 Ga fossils. |
| File Size | 955829 |
| Page Count | 2 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20080013413 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t38102p83 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2008-03-10 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Precambrian Period Microorganisms Biogeochemistry Life Detectors Extraterrestrial Life Biomarkers Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Fossils Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
