Image: Merve Yeşilbaş
Research group My research explores the catalyst roles of minerals and rocks to initiate essential bio(geo)chemical reactions for sustaining life. My goal is to answer this driving question: Is there, or has there ever been, life on Mars?
Welcome to my research group! We combine (geo)chemistry, astrobiology and spectroscopy to discover how water may fuel life on other planets and offers a resource for future human exploration. Our goal is to time travel, to answer a single, driving question: Is there, or has there ever been, life on Mars and beyond?
To resolve this, we are addressing the following questions:
• Is there water on Mars?
• What is the role of water in Martian geochemical history?
• How can we reveal the potential water resources for future human explorations on Mars?
Our research focuses on the geochemical changes of the planet Mars and the Icy Worlds using spectroscopic techniques. We use minerals, rocks and soils collected from the extreme environments on Earth (e.g., Hawaii, Antarctica) as a model system to reveal the bio(geo)chemical and climate history of Mars and search for potential water resources on the Red Planet as well as to search for extraterrestrial life.
Minerals and rocks can act as catalysts, preserving water and initiating (prebiotic) chemical reactions essential for sustaining life. Yet, we still have not resolved the roles of minerals on their interactions with these essential components of life (e.g., water, nucleobases, microorganism) in molecular level. We use an integrative approach by bridging the collected laboratory data with Martian orbit data, especially from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). We bring a novel integrative approach to understanding the role of Martian regolith and rocks in water stabilization under extreme conditions at the molecular level.
• To evaluate the environmental conditions for the formation and stabilization of liquid salty brine in the near surface regions of Mars using Martian analogue soils, rocks, and salts.
• Binding, trapping, and release of carbon dioxide (g) from Martian analogue permafrosts.
• To evaluate the VNIR spectra of Martian analogue mixtures with correlating Martian orbit data using the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM).
I collaborate with colleagues from the SETI Institute, NASA (Ames Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Johnson Space Center), Southwest Research Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CNRS, German Aerospace Center, and University of Vienna. I gratefully acknowledge support from the Swedish Research Council, Umeå University, Kempe Foundation, Carl Tryggers Foundation, European Science Foundation, and NASA.
Would you like to explore latest news from my research group? You are very welcomed to visit my lab webpage at www.yesilbaslab.com.
Research shows that small-scale melting of ice near the ground surface causes landslides.
