Project description
Advanced technology could enable remote detection of life-building blocks in space
Laboratory research spanning two decades suggests that amino acids and certain parts of RNA and DNA can be formed in space ice under high-energy, vacuum ultraviolet irradiation. However, confirming this also requires on-field measurements. Current methods, like analysing meteorites or using expensive space probes, have limitations. Funded under the European Research Council, the ENIMUS project plans to develop remote detection techniques to thoroughly study amino acid distribution within the solar system. The focus will be on abundant, optically active amino acids like alanine. Furthermore, researchers will develop a prototype instrument to enable alanine detection via a small probe in the asteroid belt.
Objective
Amino acids and the reference nucleobases for RNA and DNA can be formed in space ice under high energy, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation. This statement is based on twenty years of laboratory research and has profound implications in the understanding of the emergence of life in the Cosmos, the universality of the processes involved and the compatibility of life forms across the Universe.
However, this laboratory work still needs to be confronted with actual, on-field measurements. Promising data have been obtained through in-situ techniques: the analysis of carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchinson meteorite or the detection of Glycine in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Unfortunately, neither of these techniques suits well a systematic investigation. Meteorites reaching the Earth surface represent a reduced and biased subset and contamination by Earth-based amino acids needs to be carefully controlled. Space probes such as Rosetta are very costly and limited in scope given the constraints in space navigation. Thus, it is crucial to develop remote detection techniques to carry out a comprehensive study of the distribution of amino acids within the Solar System, their relative abundances and their enantiomeric imbalance. According to recent estimates, this is possible at VUV wavelengths for optically active amino acids such as the very abundant alanine.
The interaction between VUV radiation and optically active amino acids in space bodies is yet poorly studied. The formation of crystallites and complex structures, the interaction between the various molecules, the dependence on the VUV photon energy, polarization and flux needs to be quantified, prior to any attempt of remote detection in the Solar System. This project aims to carry such in-depth study and develop a laboratory prototype of the instrument to make, at the least, alanine remote detection feasible by a small probe navigating the asteroids belt.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences asteroids
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28040 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.