Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
22
result(s) for
"Preston, Louisa"
Sort by:
Goldilocks and the water bears : the search for life in the universe
As inhabitants of planet Earth, our next logical move is to break free of the confines of the Earth and colonize another body in the solar system, such as the Moon or Mars. How and when will we do this? Or is it all just science fiction? These questions, in a nutshell, make up the core of astrobiology--the study of the origins and evolution and biology of life elsewhere in the universe, and the search for it. This book provides an introduction to this astro-science, asking, \"Are we alone in the universe?\"
Book
Planetary habitability: lessons learned from terrestrial analogues
Terrestrial analogue studies underpin almost all planetary missions and their use is essential in the exploration of our Solar system and in assessing the habitability of other worlds. Their value relies on the similarity of the analogue to its target, either in terms of their mineralogical or geochemical context, or current physical or chemical environmental conditions. Such analogue sites offer critical ground-truthing for astrobiological studies on the habitability of different environmental parameter sets, the biological mechanisms for survival in extreme environments and the preservation potential and detectability of biosignatures. The 33 analogue sites discussed in this review have been selected on the basis of their congruence to particular extraterrestrial locations. Terrestrial field sites that have been used most often in the literature, as well as some lesser known ones which require greater study, are incorporated to inform on the astrobiological potential of Venus, Mars, Europa, Enceladus and Titan. For example, the possibility of an aerial habitable zone on Venus has been hypothesized based on studies of life at high-altitudes in the terrestrial atmosphere. We also demonstrate why many different terrestrial analogue sites are required to satisfactorily assess the habitability of the changing environmental conditions throughout Martian history, and recommend particular sites for different epochs or potential niches. Finally, habitable zones within the aqueous environments of the icy moons of Europa and Enceladus and potentially in the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan are discussed and suitable analogue sites proposed. It is clear from this review that a number of terrestrial analogue sites can be applied to multiple planetary bodies, thereby increasing their value for astrobiological exploration. For each analogue site considered here, we summarize the pertinent physiochemical environmental features they offer and critically assess the fidelity with which they emulate their intended target locale. We also outline key issues associated with the existing documentation of analogue research and the constraints this has on the efficiency of discoveries in this field. This review thus highlights the need for a global open access database for planetary analogues.
Journal Article
Detectability of biosignatures in a low-biomass simulation of martian sediments
Discovery of a remnant habitable environment by the Mars Science Laboratory in the sedimentary record of Gale Crater has reinvigorated the search for evidence of martian life. In this study, we used a simulated martian mudstone material, based on data from Gale Crater, that was inoculated and cultured over several months and then dried and pressed. The simulated mudstone was analysed with a range of techniques to investigate the detectability of biosignatures. Cell counting and DNA extraction showed a diverse but low biomass microbial community that was highly dispersed. Pellets were analysed with bulk Elemental Analysis – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS), high-resolution Laser-ablation Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (LIMS), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, which are all techniques of relevance to current and future space missions. Bulk analytical techniques were unable to differentiate between inoculated samples and abiotic controls, despite total levels of organic carbon comparable with that of the martian surface. Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and LIMS, which are high sensitivity techniques that provide chemical information at high spatial resolution, retrieved presumptive biosignatures but these remained ambiguous and the sedimentary matrix presented challenges for all techniques. This suggests challenges for detecting definitive evidence for life, both in the simulated lacustrine environment via standard microbiological techniques and in the simulated mudstone via analytical techniques with relevance to robotic missions. Our study suggests that multiple co-incident high-sensitivity techniques that can scan the same micrometre-scale spots are required to unambiguously detect biosignatures, but the spatial coverage of these techniques needs to be high enough not to miss individual cellular-scale structures in the matrix.
Journal Article
Post-digital audience engagement activity in and across visual arts and publishing
This thesis conceptualises post-digital audience engagement activity in activity settings across visual arts and publishing. The research question is: how is audience engagement activity understood in and across publishing and the visual arts in the post-digital age? The central argument this thesis makes is that in the post-digital age relationships between the audience (and conceptualisations thereof) and cultural/sector organisations are undergoing a degree of transformation. Additionally, activities in the publishing industry have become significant to other areas of the creative industries, as media has begun to converge in the post-digital age. Greater understanding of audience engagement activity in this wider context bears significance for the potential roles and expanded activities that publishers can undertake. This thesis explains the dynamics of post-digital audience engagement activity undertaken in the visual arts and publishing. Post-digital audience engagement activity is motivated towards expanding audiences, creating new relationships with audiences and developing new playful transactions. Events have a key role in expanding audiences, generating participation and transformations of activity. Other key features of post-digital audience engagement are digital tools which interact with other analogue instruments of engagement and gamification and playful features of activity drawn from games development practice. Taking a practice-based studies approach, this research used Cultural Historical Activity Theory. The research methodology adopted a mixture of research strategies drawn from ethnography and case study research. An adaptation to the case study strategy of activity settings was used relating to the challenge of demarcating boundaries of a case while adopting a practice ontology. Qualitative data in the form of semi-structured interviews, observational fieldnotes, documents and images form the data sets for this research in three activity settings of publishing, national art collections and contemporary art. Organisations which are central to these activity settings are Publishing Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and Dundee Contemporary Arts.
Dissertation
A multidisciplinary study of biomarkers in hydrothermal deposits: applications to the search for life on mars
Hydrothermal systems have been suggested as suitable environments for the appearance of life on the Early Earth and may provide habitats for microorganisms on Mars. The deposits created by these systems are preserved in the geological record. This research investigates the key mineralogical, textural and biological markers found in terrestrial hydrothermal deposits that can be used as analogues in the search for evidence of life on Mars. Samples of silica sinter from Iceland and New Zealand, the Rhynie Chert 396 Ma old deposit from Aberdeenshire and hydrothermally altered impactites from the Chicxulub impact crater have been analysed to understand the mineralogical properties unique to the different hydrothermal conditions and the evidence of extant or extinct microorganisms within them. Re-colonisation of basaltic substrates by hot spring-derived cultures was also carried out. This research was conducted using a multidisciplinary approach with the analytical techniques and instruments involved currently used for in-situ and orbital observations of planetary bodies. The principal techniques, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), were used due to their combined capabilities in the identification of a variety of rocks and minerals, and a wide range of organic compounds. This PhD research has shown that FTIR in particular is an exceptional analytical technique for use in astrobiological investigations. This research has characterised hydrothermal deposits of different ages and created by different processes on Earth to ascertain their potential for preserving organic compounds in similar deposits on Mars. Results indicate that siliceous hydrothermal deposits of recent and ancient formation yield biomolecular evidence for past and present microbial colonisation as do hydrothermally altered impact deposits and re-colonised basaltic substrates. The identification of mineralogical and biological information using FTIR reflectance spectroscopy has wide implications in the search for life on Mars and other planetary bodies.
Dissertation
Transformational astrophysics and exoplanet science with Habitable Worlds Observatory's High Resolution Imager
Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be NASA's flagship space telescope of the 2040s, designed to search for life on other planets and to transform broad areas of astrophysics. NASA are seeking international partners, and the UK is well-placed to lead the design and construction of its imaging camera - which is likely to produce the mission's most visible public impact. Early participation in the mission would return investment to UK industry, and bring generational leadership for the UK in space science, space technology, and astrophysics.
Paper
Earth Analogues
Terrestrial analogue environments are places on Earth with geological or environmental conditions that are similar to those that exist on an extraterrestrial body. The purpose of using these terrestrial analogue sites for planetary missions is to learn about planetary processes on Earth and elsewhere; to test methodologies, protocols, strategies, and technologies; to train highly qualified personnel, as well as science and operation teams; and to engage the public, space agencies, media, and educators. Most analogue sites are devoted to Mars. Both Europa and Enceladus are characterized by a planet-wide ocean covered with a thick ice-crust. Long-term field-testing campaigns have been established to provide a framework for planetary instrument and mission testing. The Desert Research and Technology Studies field-testing campaigns started in 1997 in support of future manned mission scenarios.
Book Chapter
JUICE: Everything you need to know about ESA’s much-anticipated Jupiter mission
Tonight, the JUICE mission blasts off on its eight-year voyage to Jupiter. Once there it will peer at the planet's moons to find out if life could be lurking beneath their icy crusts.
Magazine Article
AFTERMATH OF THE OLD REGIME
THE Panningtons were poor, not that they had not been rich--the latter fact was their greatest trouble; they could not forget it. Mrs. Pennington remembered her father's broad acres, his splendid cotton fields, his 500 slaves, and...
Newspaper Article