Tiny Minerals Hold Clues for the Origin of Life on Earth and Presence of Life on Other Planets

What is it about?

In the past, scientists have been unable to determine the precise chemical composition of the tiniest minerals present in rocks and sediments that are millions of years old. That inability to examine the oldest geological samples on Earth at what is called nano-scale has limited what scientists can know about how and when early life appeared on our planet after its formation, and also about life in other planets like Mars. We have devised a method to examine the composition of minerals that are a thousand times smaller than the average thickness of a single strand of human hair. We do this by using the technique of atom probe tomography, which allows us to analyze the chemical elements at the atomic level inside minerals, looking for the presence of carbon and nitrogen, which compose the basic building blocks for life on our planet.

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Why is it important?

This revolutionary approach to examining the tiniest minerals found in rocks and sediments that are produced by life forms will enable scientists to make advancements on two key fronts. The first is that it moves scientists one step closer to determining the origin of life in our planet. The second is that this method will allow scientists to test rocks and other geological samples from other planets, such as Mars, for evidence of life. It is expected that by the end of this decade scientists will have access to geological samples from Mars that can contain nano-scale minerals formed by organisms. Ultimately, our novel approach can answer questions about when life was present after the formation of our planet and other Earth-like planets in the Solar System.

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