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Raman Biosignatures for Astrobiology Missions

Subject Area Astrophysics and Astronomy
Biophysics
Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Term from 2019 to 2024
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426601242
 
Final Report Year 2022

Final Report Abstract

Mars and the Jovian and Saturnian moons (Europa and Enceladus) are the most promising targets to search for life in our Solar System. New life detection instruments have been sent to Mars in 2020 (onboard NASA’s Mars2020 rover) and are prepared for future missions (ESA’s ExoMars rover in the near future and missions to the icy moons). Among them, spectroscopy methods such as Raman or infrared are promising techniques that can give insights on both the mineralogical context and the identification of biosignatures. However, to support and interpret spectroscopic data correctly, as well as to guide future life detection missions, a better understanding of possible habitable environments and potentially detectable biosignatures is of paramount importance. The RaBioFAM project (Raman Biosignatures for Astrobiology Missions) thus explored the capabilities of Raman spectroscopy instruments to detect traces of life in extraterrestrial settings. From the characterization of extremophiles from analog field studies, to artificial samples of isolated biomolecule models, to samples exposed to real and simulated Martian and space conditions, we gathered exciting and promising results supporting current and future missions to Mars and beyond. Several field campaigns were conducted prior to and during this project in the Atacama Desert, Icelandic and Azorean lava tubes, and Vulcano island. By using portable instruments, with detection capabilities in the same range as space instruments, we showed that detectable traces of life are rare but present in these harsh conditions. Comparing the results with laboratory measurements is important to inform current and future missions about the best potential candidate matrices or settings for the preservation of traces of life. During this project, I conducted the analysis of the measurements from the space exposure experiment BIOMEX via statistical and chemometric methods. With these I was able to quantify the preservation of Raman signals from model biosignatures exposed to Mars simulated conditions in space. We showed that even on the UV irradiated samples, spectral signatures of life were still detectable but in very low numbers, whereas the UV protected samples, simulating Mars’ subsurface, displayed the best preservation potential. One of the main innovative objectives of this project was to follow Raman signatures of model biosignatures in situ during irradiation experiments, in collaboration with the CNRS Orléans. A proof of concept article was published using polymers as test samples and several irradiation campaigns took place with biomolecules leading to improvements of the system.

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