carboxylic acids Archives - Astrobiology

a The Viking 1 & 2 landers detected chlorinated breakdown products likely formed through interactions between organics and oxychlorine anions during thermal volatilization utilized for analysis11,12, b the Curiosity rover identified various functionalized organic fragments and long-chain n-alkanes (for simplicity, a subset is illustrated here)13,15, and the Perseverance rover measured redox-driven organo-mineral associations and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); * indicates that PAHs reported by Fornaro et al. (2025) were found in different locations and geologic units than organo-mineral associations reported by Hurowitz et al. (2025)14,16. d Carbonaceous meteorites and asteroids delivered to planetary surfaces contain a rich array of organics, including some of the same compounds detected on Mars (e.g., macromolecular carbon, thiophenes, PAHs, long-chain n-alkanes), along with a diverse suite of prebiotic organics, which highlights the importance of understanding abiotic background material when searching for organic biosignatures on Mars5,6,7,18. Image credits: a NASA/JPL, b NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS, c NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS, d NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona. -- Nature via PubMed

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Status Report

An Organics-forward Approach To Searching For Life On Mars

by Keith CowingMay 24, 2026May 24, 2026

The modern Martian surface is cold, dry, oxidizing, and perpetually bombarded with radiation, rendering it generally inhospitable to life as we know it.

Citric Acid Cycle - Wikipedia

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Status Report

Astrochemistry: Abiotic Origin Of Citric Acid Cycle Intermediates

by Keith CowingJuly 8, 2025September 18, 2025

The molecular framework for protometabolism-chemical reactions in a prebiotic environment preceding modern metabolism-has remained unknown in evolutionary biology.

A close-up of Apollo 17 lunar core sample 73001 being taken out of its drive tube for the first time since it was collected by Apollo astronauts in December 1972 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report

Sample Return Contamination? Soluble Organic Compounds and Cyanide in Apollo 17 Lunar Samples: Origins and Curation Effects

by Keith CowingJune 9, 2024June 9, 2024

We analyzed twelve Apollo 17 samples through the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program to determine the abundances of a variety of compound classes, including amino acids, aldehydes, ketones, […]

Integrated emission maps of detected transitions of CH2NH towards the G10.47+0.03, which are overlaid with the 2.34 mm continuum emission map. The contour levels are 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of peak flux. The cyan circle represents the synthesized beam of the integrated emission maps. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Detection And Prebiotic Chemistry of Possible Glycine Precursor Molecule Methylenimine Towards The Hot Molecular Core G10.47+0.03

by Keith CowingApril 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Amino acids are essential for the synthesis of protein. Amino acids contain both amine (R−NH2) and carboxylic acid (R−COOH) functional groups, which help to understand the possible formation mechanism of […]

Selected transitions of cis-trans HOCOOH identified toward the G+0.693–0.027 molecular cloud (listed in Table 1). The result of the best LTE fit is shown with a red solid line, while the blue line shows the expected molecular emission from all the molecular species identified to date in our survey. The observed spectra are plotted as gray histograms. The structure of cis-trans HOCOOH is also depicted (carbon atoms in grey; oxygen atoms are in red, and hydrogen atoms in white). -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Interstellar, Status Report

Discovery Of The Elusive Carbonic Acid (HOCOOH) In Space

by Keith CowingJuly 18, 2023

After a quarter century since the detection of the last interstellar carboxylic acid, acetic acid (CH3COOH), we report the discovery of a new one, the cis-trans form of carbonic acid […]

GC chromatogram of carboxylic acids formed by spark discharge in the gas mixture of CO2, CH4, N2, and H2O (rCH4 = 0.25). The sample was analyzed without hydrolysis. C1: formic acid, C2: acetic acid, C3: propanoic acid, iC4: isobutyric acid, C4: butyric acid, iC5: isovaleric acid. -- Life

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Formation of Amino Acids and Carboxylic Acids in Weakly Reducing Planetary Atmospheres by Solar Energetic Particles from the Young Sun

by Keith CowingMay 31, 2023May 26, 2023

Life most likely started during the Hadean Eon; however, the environmental conditions which contributed to the complexity of its chemistry are poorly known.

conceptual image

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Press Release

Ryugu Asteroid Sample Reveals That It Has A Rich Complement Of Organic Molecules

by Keith CowingFebruary 23, 2023February 23, 2023

Asteroid Ryugu has a rich complement of organic molecules, according to a NASA and international team’s initial analysis of a sample from the asteroid’s surface delivered to Earth by Japan’s […]