Project description
Tracing life’s clues beyond Earth
Recent missions to Mars and asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu have uncovered organic molecules and unusual mineral patterns. While these may hint at past life, it is unclear whether they are biological in origin or shaped by geological processes. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ORIGIM project is investigating this mystery through fieldwork, lab simulations, and data from NASA’s Perseverance and Curiosity rovers. The project unites researchers from NASA and Spain’s Centre for Astrobiology to study how organic compounds form in space and how to tell biological from non-biological signatures. ORIGIM could help bring us closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: are we alone in the universe?
Objective
What is the origin of the organic molecules recently found on Mars? And the organics and dark rims of iron and phosphorus recently found by Perseverance? Could they have a biological origin? Are we closer to finding life beyond the Earth? These challenging questions form the basis of the ORganIc GenesIs on Mars (ORIGIM) project. Inspired by the exciting and recent discoveries of organic compounds and phosphorus on Mars and asteroids Benu and Ryugu, ORIGIM aims to constrain the geological and biological processes behind the different mineral and chemical signatures detected, which may hold the key to understanding the possibility of life beyond our planet.
The ORIGIM project is interdisciplinary research between the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre (GSFC, USA) and the Centre for Astrobiology (CAB, Spain). Fieldwork, geochemical and cosmochemical simulations, and real-time monitoring of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory and Mars2020 missions will involve leading biologists, geologists, chemists, physicists and engineers. ORIGIM aligns with the growing interest in detecting life beyond Earth, led by NASA and JAXA (Japan), and the upcoming ESA ExoMars and NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return (MSR) missions, which will position the European Union prominently in the space exploration arena. The ORIGIM project is timely and novel, as it will contribute to the challenging task of identifying biological vs non-biological signatures in extraterrestrial materials, ultimately addressing the long-standing question of whether life has ever existed beyond Earth.
Dr. Cañadas will lead the project with a strong focus on international and interdisciplinary collaboration. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity for her to develop leadership skills in dynamic scientific environments, enhancing her geochemical expertise with new methodologies and personal growth. This will position her as a highly visible and independent EU scientist in the rapidly expanding field of Astrobiology
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 space exploration
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences asteroids
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
28006 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.