Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MaPLE (Mars Phosphorus and LifE)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-10-01 bis 2023-09-30
How did life first emerge on Earth? What type of environments did gather all the ingredients for life to occur? Did Mars ever host life? These challenging questions are the base of the Mars Phosphorus and LifE (MaPLE) project, that emerged from the exciting idea that carbonate-rich lakes might have been terrestrial cradles of life, as very recently proposed, with strong implications for the inception of life on Mars.
One of the central mysteries that astrobiologists face is addressing how life originated and where the building blocks (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur; CHNOPS) came from. P is an essential part of the nucleic acids, phospho-lipids and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, present in all forms of life. However, P on Earth is scarce as it is locked in low solubility phosphate minerals, raising the fundamental and long-lasting question about where early life got its P supply, the so-called ‘phosphate problem’.
The primary goals of the MaPLE project are twofold: first, to explore the possibility that carbonates on early Mars could have harbored sufficient dissolved phosphorus to create environments conducive to the origin and evolution of life; and second, to evaluate the habitability of extraterrestrial environments, using crucial insights from the Mars2020 mission.Achieving these objectives will position carbonate-rich settings as prime targets for future planetary explorations across other planets or moons where carbonates may be identified, opening an exciting line of investigation about specific environments conducive to the origin of life. To facilitate this,the project examines Archean (~3 Ga) carbonates along with iron- and sulfur-rich rocks from Canada, utilizing them as a Mars analogue for early life on Earth.
One of the central mysteries that astrobiologists face is addressing how life originated and where the building blocks (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur; CHNOPS) came from. P is an essential part of the nucleic acids, phospho-lipids and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, present in all forms of life. However, P on Earth is scarce as it is locked in low solubility phosphate minerals, raising the fundamental and long-lasting question about where early life got its P supply, the so-called ‘phosphate problem’.
The primary goals of the MaPLE project are twofold: first, to explore the possibility that carbonates on early Mars could have harbored sufficient dissolved phosphorus to create environments conducive to the origin and evolution of life; and second, to evaluate the habitability of extraterrestrial environments, using crucial insights from the Mars2020 mission.Achieving these objectives will position carbonate-rich settings as prime targets for future planetary explorations across other planets or moons where carbonates may be identified, opening an exciting line of investigation about specific environments conducive to the origin of life. To facilitate this,the project examines Archean (~3 Ga) carbonates along with iron- and sulfur-rich rocks from Canada, utilizing them as a Mars analogue for early life on Earth.
The MaPLE project, conducted from October 1st, 2021, to January 20th, 2024, achieved significant advances in early Earth geochemical research, starting with the collection of 186 rock samples from the Archean Red Lake area in Canada. These samples, essential for understanding early Earth and used as a Martian analog, were meticulously analyzed to decipher their geochemical signatures. Collaborative efforts with Canadian experts from Lakehead University, laid the foundation for a comprehensive examination of these geological rock samples. Subsequent collaborations, including a fruitful secondment at Geosciences Environment Toulouse (GET) and University of Vigo (Spain), enhanced the project's analytical depth through specialised Fe and P speciation techniques and biogeochemical modelling, enriching my expertise and setting the stage for ongoing and future collaborative research.
Further enhancing the project's technical side, training at the Cohen Geochemistry, University of Leeds, allowed me to master an additional geochemical technique (pyrite extraction), overcoming unexpected challenges and demonstrating the project's adaptability. Concurrently, comprehensive analyses involving ICP-MS and XRD were conducted on selected samples at the Planetary Geology lab at the host institution (Centre for Astrobiology, Spain) and the British Geological Survey (UK), providing in-depth insights into their elemental composition. The project's scope expanded with supplementary analyses at the British Geological Survey (UK), where a wider array of samples underwent advanced geochemical examination, including Rock-Eval Pyrolysis and nitrogen isotope studies.
An important part of the project was the scientific and public outreach. I engaged in a series of activities, presenting at five major science conferences across Europe, which highlighted the project's progress and findings and providing scientific assessment as simposium convener at the Goldschmidt 2023 conference. Based on the significant findings and results, the first manuscript from the MaPLE project is being targeted for submission to a high-impact journal.
Beyond the academic realm, I actively participated in public science events, one of which was the SopaBox Science Spain, where I discussed Mars and conducted experiments for an audience ranging from children to the elderly. I also contributed to organizing the weekly CAB and the fortnightly European Astrobiology Institute Academy seminars. In addition, I served as a mentor in the ABGradE 2023 conference, advising on transferrable skills and grant writing. Additionally, I led and organised a two-day conference for the Centre for Astrobiology's PhD students in both 2022 and 2023 named ‘Keep your uPhDated days’, that featured 40 students presenting orally or via posters. These conferences attracted over 100 attendees each year and it is intended to run on a yearly basis for the benefit and visibility of the PhD students. In both editions, non-technical sessions about science dissemination, mental health and pathways after PhD completion complemented the final program.
The MaPLE project has successfully achieved its objectives, showcasing exceptional time and budget management. It has efficiently met its goals, optimizing resource use and achieving planned milestones. A significant achievement of the MaPLE project is the development of a strong network of both national and international collaborations. These partnerships have not only enriched the project's scope and depth but also fostered a collaborative environment that promises to yield long-term benefits for all parties involved.
Further enhancing the project's technical side, training at the Cohen Geochemistry, University of Leeds, allowed me to master an additional geochemical technique (pyrite extraction), overcoming unexpected challenges and demonstrating the project's adaptability. Concurrently, comprehensive analyses involving ICP-MS and XRD were conducted on selected samples at the Planetary Geology lab at the host institution (Centre for Astrobiology, Spain) and the British Geological Survey (UK), providing in-depth insights into their elemental composition. The project's scope expanded with supplementary analyses at the British Geological Survey (UK), where a wider array of samples underwent advanced geochemical examination, including Rock-Eval Pyrolysis and nitrogen isotope studies.
An important part of the project was the scientific and public outreach. I engaged in a series of activities, presenting at five major science conferences across Europe, which highlighted the project's progress and findings and providing scientific assessment as simposium convener at the Goldschmidt 2023 conference. Based on the significant findings and results, the first manuscript from the MaPLE project is being targeted for submission to a high-impact journal.
Beyond the academic realm, I actively participated in public science events, one of which was the SopaBox Science Spain, where I discussed Mars and conducted experiments for an audience ranging from children to the elderly. I also contributed to organizing the weekly CAB and the fortnightly European Astrobiology Institute Academy seminars. In addition, I served as a mentor in the ABGradE 2023 conference, advising on transferrable skills and grant writing. Additionally, I led and organised a two-day conference for the Centre for Astrobiology's PhD students in both 2022 and 2023 named ‘Keep your uPhDated days’, that featured 40 students presenting orally or via posters. These conferences attracted over 100 attendees each year and it is intended to run on a yearly basis for the benefit and visibility of the PhD students. In both editions, non-technical sessions about science dissemination, mental health and pathways after PhD completion complemented the final program.
The MaPLE project has successfully achieved its objectives, showcasing exceptional time and budget management. It has efficiently met its goals, optimizing resource use and achieving planned milestones. A significant achievement of the MaPLE project is the development of a strong network of both national and international collaborations. These partnerships have not only enriched the project's scope and depth but also fostered a collaborative environment that promises to yield long-term benefits for all parties involved.
The MaPLE project has enhanced our understanding of the Archean environmental conditions under which primitive life emerged and thrived, offering new perspectives on early Earth's biosphere-geosphere coevolution and its implications for astrobiology. While the project did not directly result in prototypes or new products, the methodologies developed and the insights gained pave the way for new research avenues, potentially enhancing the competitiveness and growth of European scientific research in the astrobiological and planetary research. The potential users of this project's results span a wide array, from academic peers in the field of astrobiology, geoscientists, and science communicators.