Astrobiology: Towards an Understanding of the Emergence of Life in the Universe (original) (raw)
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Astrobiology: From the Origin of Life on Earth to Life in the Universe
Complete Course in Astrobiology
This chapter covers the different theories about the steps toward the origin and evolution of life on Earth, and the major requirements for these processes and for life at large are discussed. Conclusions are drawn on the likelihood of life originating and persisting on other places of our Solar System, such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the giant planets, or beyond in the Universe.
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
This contribution to the Research Topic "Imagining the Future of Astronomy and Space Sciences" focuses on astrobiology and exoplanetary research. Understanding the origin of life is the main scientific challenge to this century and an interdisciplinary endeavor in itself. To that astronomy will contribute in three key issues. Firstly, by measuring the abundance of elements relevant to life in the Universe. Then by determining the preferred location for aminoacids and complex organic molecules assembly. Finally, by investigating the signatures of life in exoplanets. A new generation of facilities will need to be built to address these questions. The relevance of ultraviolet instrumentation for this purpose is highlighted in this short perspective.
2020
The question of the origin of life interested people for centuries. All existing views on this subject can be classified into different areas of our knowledge of the world: natural sciences, philosophy, and theology. Some theories (perhaps the majority) contain more or less explicit elements from all of these areas. Thus, it is helpful to take a closer look at them and to classify all the typical groups of theories about the origins of life. We can in this way stress their mutual connections and clarify their own nature. Nowadays, driving forces of pre-biological chemical evolution and the explanation of the transition from “non-life into life” present a great variety of solutions. The differences between the theories, however, as well as the current controversies in the scientific community (e.g., what was “in the beginning”?; where did prebiotic evolution take place? etc.), will be shown to be of secondary importance in comparison with several much more profound philosophical assu...
ASTROBIOLOGY: The Study of the Living Universe
Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2005
Astrobiology is the study of the living universe. Astronomy provides the context for the origin and evolution of life on Earth. Conversely, discoveries about the terrestrial biosphere-from extremophilic microbes to the evolution of intelligenceinform our thinking about prospects for life elsewhere. Astrobiology includes the search for extraterrestrial life via in situ exploration, spectroscopy of solar and extrasolar planetary atmospheres, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This review situates astrobiology within philosophical issues of the definition of life and the biological compatibility of the universe. It reviews the habitability of the Galaxy in general and of planets and moons in particular, and summarizes current controversies in originsof-life research and in evidence for the earliest life on Earth. It critiques certain 'rare Earth' and 'anthropic' arguments, and considers four approaches to deciding whether intelligent life exists elsewhere in the Galaxy. It concludes that astrobiology must also speak to the future of human civilization.
Astrophysical and astrochemical insights into the origin of life
Reports on Progress in Physics, 2002
Stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements such as carbon allowed the formation of organic molecules in space, which appear to be widespread in our Galaxy. The physical and chemical conditions-including density, temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and energetic particles-determine reaction pathways and the complexity of organic molecules in different space environments. Dense interstellar clouds are the birth sites of stars of all masses and their planetary systems. During the protostellar collapse, interstellar organic molecules in gaseous and solid phases are integrated into protostellar disks from which planets and smaller solar 0034-4885/02/101427+61$90.00
From the Origin of Life on Earth to Life in the Universe
Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics, 2005
This chapter covers the different theories about the steps toward the origin and evolution of life on Earth, and the major requirements for these processes and for life at large are discussed. Conclusions are drawn on the likelihood of life originating and persisting on other places of our Solar System, such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the giant planets, or beyond in the Universe.
An Astrophysical Basis for a Universal Origin of Life
Advances in Complex Systems, 2003
We propose a universal, astrophysically based theory of the origin of life on Earth and on other rocky planets as well. Life is an information system where the information content grows because of selection. It must start with the minimum possible information, or the minimum possible departure from thermodynamic equilibrium. It also requires thermodynamically free energy that is accessible by means of its information content. Hence, for its origin, we look for the most benign circumstance or minimum entropy variations over long times with abundant free energy. The unique location for this condition is the pore space in the first few kilometers of the earth's surface. The free energy is derived from the condensed products of the chemical reactions taking place in the cooling nebula e.g. iron oxides and fixed hydrocarbon, ( CH 2)16 and the benign environment is the thermal and radiation isolation of the earth's crust. We discuss how this environment occurs naturally and univer...
Space Science Reviews
The aim of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the different possible scenarios for the emergence of life, to critically assess them and, according to the conclusions we reach, to analyze whether similar processes could have been conducive to independent origins of life on the several icy moons of the Solar System. Instead of directly proposing a concrete and unequivocal cradle of life on Earth, we focus on describing the different requirements that are arguably needed for the transition between non-life to life. We approach this topic from geological, biological, and chemical perspectives with the aim of providing answers in an integrative manner. We reflect upon the most prominent origins hypotheses and assess whether they match the aforementioned abiogenic requirements. Based on the conclusions extracted, we address whether the conditions for abiogenesis are/were met in any of the oceanic icy moons.
From cosmos to intelligent life: the four ages of astrobiology
International Journal of Astrobiology, 2012
The history of life on Earth and in other potential life-bearing planetary platforms is deeply linked to the history of the universe. Since life as we know it relies on chemical elements forged in dying heavy stars, the universe needs to be old enough for stars to form and evolve. Current cosmological theory indicates that the universe is 13.7±0.13 billion years old and that the first stars formed hundreds of millions of years after the big bang. At least some stars formed with stable planetary systems wherein a set of biochemical reactions leading to life could have taken place. In this lecture, I argue that we can divide cosmological history into four ages, from the big bang to intelligent life. The physical age describes the origin of the universe, of matter, of cosmic nucleosynthesis, as well as the formation of the first stars and galaxies. The chemical age begun when heavy stars provided the raw ingredients for life through stellar nucleosynthesis and describes how heavier chemical elements collected in nascent planets and moons to give rise to prebiotic biomolecules. The biological age describes the origin of early life, its evolution through Darwinian natural selection, and the emergence of complex multicellular life forms. Finally, the cognitive age describes how complex life evolved into intelligent life capable of self-awareness and of developing technology through the directed manipulation of energy and materials. We conclude discussing whether we are the rule or the exception. * mgleiser@dartmouth.edu. Opening plenary talk delivered at the São Paulo Advanced School of Astrobiology, São Paulo, December 2011.