The Earth Science Colloquium Series presents:
Searching for Life in All the Right Places: Habitability and Life Detection in Icy Environments
with Dr. Charity Philips-Lander, Senior Research Scientist- Astrobiology at Southwest Research Institute.
Abstract
Icy environments throughout the Solar System are considered among the best places to search for life. This includes Ocean Worlds like Enceladus, Europa and Titan, whose icy exteriors overly subsurface oceans and Mars which hosts both exposed ices at the poles and subsurface ices that extend to mid-latitudes. Salts present in association with these ices depress the freezing point of water, extending the range of habitable conditions. However, much remains to be discovered about both the habitability of icy environments on Earth and elsewhere, and how we search for life in these environments. In this talk, we will evaluate the factors that influence the habitability
of icy environments across the Solar System and how even abiotically derived organics (e.g. from meteorites) can further expand the range of habitable conditions in icy environments. Then, we examine life detection techniques and challenges observed in permafrost systems on Devon Island in the High Arctic, including Haughton Crater, a 23 Ma impact crater. Lastly, we will discuss how these data can be used to craft future missions to search for life elsewhere.
Host: Carl Brenner, Senior Staff Associate III, Marine/Large Programs, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
The Earth Science Colloquium Series, sponsored by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES), provides a lively forum for discussing a wide variety of topics within the Earth sciences and related fields. Colloquia are attended by the full range of scientific and technical staff at LDEO. Colloquium attendance is required of all pre-orals DEES graduate students. The Colloquium Series supports the Lamont Seminar Diversity Initiative.
