Research

Our research mainly consists of laboratory experiments and, to a lesser extent, field studies. The experiments and sample preparations are often conducted under oxygen-free conditions, either in a glove box or in Schlenk-type apparatuses. We use several analytical methods to study chemical reactions, for example GC-MS, HPLC, MS (LDI, MALDI, ESI-Orbitrap), vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman), UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (powder, single-crystal).

Our current research interests focus on three topics:

1. Abiotic Organic Reactions on (Young) Terrestrial Planets

There is practically no doubt that large amounts of diverse organic compounds were abiotically
(trans)formed on early Earth and Mars. What was the role of inorganic components such as metal ions, salts, minerals, and rocks in these organic reactions? We try to answer this question by experimentally simulating relevant chemical and physical conditions on young terrestrial planets. In our experiments, we found, for example, a possible prebiotic pathway from amino acids to porphyrins, which depends on Ca(II) or Mg(II) from sea salt, hydrochloric acid, and nitrite. The inorganic components are plausible to have occurred on primordial volcanic islands.

Such “spontaneous” abiotic reactions are interesting in the context of the origin of life (prebiotic chemistry, chemical evolution). Moreover, they have implications for the search for extraterrestrial life, because a biomolecule that can also be formed abiotically cannot automatically be regarded as a signature of life.

2. Chemical Biosignatures in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

The search for life on Mars is among the most exciting current activities in astrobiology. Chemical remains of possible extant or extinct Martian life forms may serve as biosignatures. However, biomolecules will be rapidly altered under the harsh conditions of the Martian surface (UV and cosmic radiation, impacts, and volcanism earlier in Martian history). Therefore, we became interested in experimentally simulating some of the alteration processes. We use Raman spectroscopy as the primary method to characterize the products which are formed when biomolecules are, for example, thermally altered.

Raman spectrometers can be carried to Mars, for example as part of the instrumentation of rovers. Our studies aim to establish correlations between the product spectra, the original biomolecules, and the alteration conditions. This work is done in cooperation with Dr. Ute Böttger and Dr. Jean-Pierre deVera of the DLR Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin.

3. Primordial Volcanic Islands

There are indications that life might have originated on land. Volcanic islands were probably the first subaerial environments on Earth. They would have provided diverse chemical and physical conditions. In principle, such a situation must have been favorable for chemical evolution. A wide range of temperatures, ash-gas clouds, volcanic lightning, lava–seawater interaction, rock pools, and mineral catalysts are among the prebiotically interesting aspects of volcanic islands. Field studies on modern volcanic islands provide new ideas for laboratory experiments and their “realistic” design. In addition, volcanic rock for use in these experiments can be collected.

On the 2007 lava field at the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on La Réunion island. From left to right: Stefan Fox, Thomas Staudacher, Henry Strasdeit. Thomas Staudacher is with the Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise.