Experimental evidence for the potential impact ejection of viable microorganisms from Mars and Mars-like planets

Stöffler, D.; Horneck, G.; Ott, S.; Hornemann, U.; Cockell, Charles S.; Moeller, Ralf; Meyer, C.; Vera, Jean‐Pierre de; Fritz, J.; Artemieva, N. A.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2006.11.007

Cited by 92 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…To tackle the question of whether endolithic microorganisms can survive the harsh conditions of a meteorite impact and ejection event, hypervelocity impacts were simulated in shock recovery experiments with a high-explosive setup (103,104,172,239) or by accelerating microbe-laden projectiles by use of a rifle or gas gun (31,32,161). In systematic shock recovery experiments, pressure ranges of 5 to 50 GPa that mimicked those observed in Martian meteorites were applied on dry layers of microorganisms (spores of Bacillus subtilis, cells of the endolithic cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis, and the lichen Xanthoria elegans) that were sandwiched between discs of Martian analogue rock.…”

Section: ϫ5mentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

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556

489

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SUMMARY The responses of microorganisms (viruses, bacterial cells, bacterial and fungal spores, and lichens) to selected factors of space (microgravity, galactic cosmic radiation, solar UV radiation, and space vacuum) were determined in space and laboratory simulation experiments. In general, microorganisms tend to thrive in the space flight environment in terms of enhanced growth parameters and a demonstrated ability to proliferate in the presence of normally inhibitory levels of antibiotics. The mechanisms responsible for the observed biological responses, however, are not yet fully understood. A hypothesized interaction of microgravity with radiation-induced DNA repair processes was experimentally refuted. The survival of microorganisms in outer space was investigated to tackle questions on the upper boundary of the biosphere and on the likelihood of interplanetary transport of microorganisms. It was found that extraterrestrial solar UV radiation was the most deleterious factor of space. Among all organisms tested, only lichens (Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans) maintained full viability after 2 weeks in outer space, whereas all other test systems were inactivated by orders of magnitude. Using optical filters and spores of Bacillus subtilis as a biological UV dosimeter, it was found that the current ozone layer reduces the biological effectiveness of solar UV by 3 orders of magnitude. If shielded against solar UV, spores of B. subtilis were capable of surviving in space for up to 6 years, especially if embedded in clay or meteorite powder (artificial meteorites). The data support the likelihood of interplanetary transfer of microorganisms within meteorites, the so-called lithopanspermia hypothesis.

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Section: ϫ5mentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

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556

489

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“…3) into mass flux (kg/yr) of life bearing rock mass. However, using the inner Solar System as a template, we expect the mean impact velocities on TRAPPIST-1 e-g are ∼2 times the escape velocities of those planets, making it likely that some amount of lightly shocked (Melosh 1985;Johnson & Melosh 2014), unsterilized (e.g., Mastrapa et al 2001;Stöffler et al 2007) material will be transferred between planets every time a large enough impact occurs. Moreover, because both the cumulative amount of mass ejected per impact…”

Section: Implications For (Litho-)panspermiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast Litho-panspermia in the Habitable Zone of the TRAPPIST-1 System

Krijt

Bowling

Lyons

et al. 2017

ApJL

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With several short-period, Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone, the TRAPPIST-1 system potentially allows litho-panspermia to take place on very short timescales. We investigate the efficiency and speed of inter-planetary material transfer resulting from impacts onto the habitable zone planets. By simulating trajectories of impact ejecta from their moment of ejection until (re-)accretion, we find that transport between the habitable zone planets is fastest for ejection velocities around and just above planetary escape velocity. At these ejection velocities, ∼10% of the ejected material reaches another habitable zone planet within 10 2 yr, indicating litho-panspermia can be 4 to 5 orders of magnitude faster in TRAPPIST-1 than in the Solar System.

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“…A more deleterious stressor of organisms during the process of impact ejection is shock. Spores of Bacillus subtilis can survive shock pressures greater than 50 GPa (Burchell et al 2001(Burchell et al , 2004Horneck 2001a;Stöffler et al 2007;Horneck et al 2007), which would allow for the survival of ejection to Earth's escape velocity. In contrast, vegetative cells are susceptible to disruption by low shock pressures.…”

Section: Launch Of Photosynthesis From a Planetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

Cockell

Raven

Kaltenegger

et al. 2009

Plant Ecology & Diversity

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Background:In the coming decades space telescopes will be constructed that will attempt to find the gaseous products of oxygenic photosynthesis, the most promising biosignatures of life, in the atmospheres of temperate Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars. Aims: This paper aims to provide a synthesis of the range of feasible targets -either planets or their satellites -that could harbour photosynthesis. Methods: We calculated photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) fluxes on a diversity of planetary bodies including those receiving direct light from a single star, similarly to the Earth, and investigated the potential of these fluxes to support photosynthesis. Results: All main sequence stars emit radiation that is capable of supporting photosynthesis on Earth-like planets. We discuss tidally-locked M star planets as a special case. Less conventional targets for searches include large moons orbiting gas giant planets, which receive reflected light from their host planets and from the host star, planets in stable orbits in binary star systems, and the search for two planets within the same star system with photosynthetic signatures. Conclusions: A diversity of planetary bodies are targets in the search for extrasolar photosynthesis. The demonstration that many or none of these candidate planetary bodies harbour photosynthesis would be an important conclusion in understanding the evolution and prevalence of photosynthesis.

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Experimental evidence for the potential impact ejection of viable microorganisms from Mars and Mars-like planets

Cited by 92 publications

References 33 publications

Space Microbiology

Space Microbiology

Fast Litho-panspermia in the Habitable Zone of the TRAPPIST-1 System

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

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