Blue Marble Space Institute of Science

In the most recent Astrobiology Revealed, Dr. Aubrey Zerkle spoke with Dr. Nita Sahai about her paper “Bioenergetics of iron snow fueling life on Europa.” Nita is a full Professor and endowed chair in the Department of Polymer Science, within the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron in Ohio, where she also has joint appointments with the Departments of Biology and Geosciences, as well as the Integrated Bioscience Program.

Congrats to YSP Research Associate Clayton Xavier Vanegas Aguilar for being selected as a mentor in the Cenca Bridge Fall 2024 Remote Internship. The mentor's role is to guide interns to best meet the objectives set by both the institution and their research advisor. Clayton will be supporting an intern working on the project “Theoretical chemistry as a bridge to advance molecular astrophysics: the PO+ reaction” with Dr. German Molpeceres.

NASA celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Chandra X-ray observatory by releasing 25 new cosmic images collected by the telescope! Named after Indian American Nobel laureate and astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Chandra is the most powerful X-ray observatory currently in operation. X-rays, which are generated when matter is heated to millions of degrees, are typically found in high-energy regions with intense magnetic or gravitational forces. Chandra has unveiled the nature of supernovae and galaxy clusters and detected X-rays within 55 miles of a black hole's event horizon, among other significant discoveries. The 65-foot telescope orbits Earth in an elliptical path every 64 hours, moving close to Earth before traveling far beyond the Van Allen radiation belts—dense rings of magnetized solar particles surrounding the planet. This unique orbit allows Chandra to capture unobstructed X-ray data for 55 hours each orbit. Learn more about the mission and the new images here: https://lnkd.in/gjCRux_g

Congratulations to YSP Research Associate Alexander Hope Ferdinand Ferguson on being selected as one of the winners of the Global Rising Stars Award, which will allow him to attend this year's IAC/SGC in Milan, Italy!

We've had a slight break in #AskAstrobio programming, but will be coming back soon with more astrobiologists and more awesome episodes for all of you!

I’m pleased to say that I’ve reached the end of my MSci #NaturalSciences degree. These last 4 years have been the best of my life, because of the wonderful people I have met, and the fantastic opportunities I have been granted. Natural Sciences has enabled me to explore all of my scientific interests, ranging from organic chemistry to quantum physics, and I am massively grateful to Geoff Nash for running the best department at the #UniversityofExeter. The highlight of my degree was my Master’s project using density functional theory (DFT) to explore the use of kinetic isotope effects to control radical reactions, supervised by Dr Stephen Green and building on the experimental work of Mark Wood. This project challenged me to couple existing tools with my own Python scripts to rationalise experimental data, improving my creative problem solving and inspiring me to pursue a #PhD. I have also had the chance to undertake research projects in each summer of my degree. In 2021, I worked as a research intern at #BMSIS, under Henderson "Jim" Cleaves and Siddhant Sharma, studying the prebiotic formation of nucleoside analogues. This project ignited my passion for #computationalchemistry research, and allowed me to collaborate with brilliant scientists from around the world. A year later, I joined Exeter’s #iGEM team, competing in the World’s premier synthetic biology competition. Our project looked at generating a bio-composite nerve graft. Presenting this research at the international Giant Jamboree conference in Paris was another highlight of my undergraduate life. I’m very proud of our award-winning accessibility work headed by Grace Poulton which investigated barriers to disabled people in STEM. Finally, in 2023, I undertook a JGD-funded project under Geoff Nash and Mick Jackson, using DFT to investigate the layer-dependent band gap of the 2D material platinum diselenide. Developing this project at all stages from the proposal and timeline to the final deliverables improved my project management skills. It is a privilege to have been awarded a First Class Honours degree averaging 90%, with a Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Performance in each year, as well as the Outstanding Natural Sciences MSci Graduate award. This would not have been possible without the support of my partner, friends, and family. Now that my time at Exeter is drawing to a close, I look forward to a new adventure, starting a #chemistry PhD under Dr Laura Ratcliff at the #UniversityofBristol. We will be using cutting-edge DFT methods to push the limits of system size for quantum mechanical calculations, studying large and disordered systems of organic LED molecules. Working at the interface of chemistry, physics, and materials science will allow me to study fascinating systems, using high-performance computing resources and collaborating with experimentalists.

In the latest Astrobiology Revealed, Dr. Aubrey Zerkle interviews Dr. Zoe Todd and they spoke "On UV transmission and prebiotic chemistry on the early Earth"

Several of our BMSIS scientists are on the co-author list for the recently released perspective paper A roadmap for the atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets with JWST.

“Our thought experiment shows how powerful our next-generation telescopes will be. We are the first generation in history that has the technology to systematically look for life and intelligence in our galactic neighborhood.” 👽 🖖 A bit late to the party with bragging about this recent press release: we tested if certain technological green house gases could be detected (e.g. using our ETH Zürich lead LIFE telescope study) as potential signs of alien civilizations, that have geo-engineered their planet(s). Big thanks to lead author Edward Schwieterman and the rest of the team (Thomas Fauchez, Jacob Haqq-Misra, Ravi kumar Kopparapu, Daria Pidhorodetska, Michaela Leung, Evan Sneed and Elsa Ducrot). Arxiv link in comments. #Astrobiology #LIFEinSpace #Aliens #Technosignatures #SETI https://lnkd.in/eeS3Hjjs

Celebrating Barbara McClintock: A Pioneer in Genetics 🧬 🔬 Today, we honor the remarkable legacy of Barbara McClintock, born on June 16, 1902. A pioneering geneticist, McClintock's groundbreaking discovery of "jumping genes" (transposons) revolutionized our understanding of genetics. Her meticulous research on maize revealed that genes are not fixed entities but can move within the genome, introducing a new dimension to genetic variation and mutation. McClintock's work extended beyond transposons, highlighting the critical role of cytogenetics, the study of chromosomes in understanding heredity and genetic behavior. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983, her contributions have left an unforgettable mark on the field of genetics.🧬 At the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, we draw inspiration from McClintock's innovative spirit and relentless curiosity. Her legacy reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of challenging scientific conventions. 🔬✨ What’s your favorite scientific discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments! Join the conversation using #BMSISInspires. #BarbaraMcClintock #Genetics #WomenInScience #NobelPrize #ScientificInnovation #BMSIS #Cytogenetics #Transposons #BMSISInspires