photosynthesis red edge Archives - Astrobiology

Comparison of (left) absolute and (right) normalized mineral and artificial reflectance spectra with the photosynthetic red edge. Spectra on the right were vectornormalized here to facilitate visualization of spectral features rather than overall reflectance. All spectra were also subjected to Gaussian smoothing with standard deviation 3. (a) sulfide mineral spectra from Table 1 (database source: stibnite, ECOSTRESS | chalcopyrite, ECOSTRESS | cinnabar, USGS | realgar, ECOSTRESS) alongside the green leaf spectrum used to model the VRE/PRE; (b) silicate mineral spectra from Table 1 (database source: lazurite, USGS | sodalite, ECOSTRESS | zircon, ECOSTRESS | nontronite, ECOSTRESS) -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Mineral False Positives in the Search for Exoplanet Surface Biosignatures

by Keith CowingMay 13, 2026May 13, 2026

In the search for life in the cosmos, biopigments on exoplanet surfaces are a critical target.