Project description
Sulfur’s origins for uncovering life (SOUL): laboratory spectroscopy and astrochemical study
Unravelling the interstellar sulfur (S) inventory and solving the long-standing 'missing sulfur' problem remain central challenges in astrochemistry. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SOUL project will investigate whether S resides in yet-undiscovered species, from small refractory molecules to complex organosulfur compounds linked to prebiotic chemistry. SOUL adopts a multidisciplinary strategy: high-resolution laboratory rotational spectroscopy, guided by quantum-chemical calculations, will characterise the spectra of the target species; ultra-deep radioastronomical surveys of shock-dominated sources will then search for these molecules, complementing James Webb Space Telescope and Rosetta data; and gas-grain chemical models will elucidate their formation pathways. Together, these efforts will clarify sulfur's life cycle, from the onset of star formation to the prebiotic material that possibly triggered life on Earth.
Objective
Unraveling the full interstellar sulfur (S) chemical inventory, alongside the “missing sulfur” problem, represents a key challenge in current astrochemistry. Despite recent advances in sensitivity, bandwidth, and spatial resolution at existing observational facilities, along with the launch of new space telescopes like JWST, a major knowledge gap persists between laboratory and observational data.
The proposed scientific project, Sulfur’s Origins for Uncovering Life (SOUL): Laboratory spectroscopy and astrochemical study, aims to investigate whether S exists in the form of relevant, yet undiscovered S-bearing species in the interstellar medium. SOUL will conduct pioneering laboratory studies and sensitive interstellar searches of new S-bearing species, from small refractory molecules that may impact the total S budget to much more complex organosulfur compounds, potentially linked to prebiotic chemistry and life's origin, striving for their first detections in space. To achieve this goal, SOUL will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, combining laboratory, observational, and modeling efforts. In the laboratory, high-resolution rotational spectroscopy, coupled with advanced quantum-chemical computations, will be used to unravel the spectra of the target species and provide the needed spectroscopic data. Then, SOUL will use ultra-deep radioastronomical surveys to search for S-bearing molecules in chemically rich shock-dominated interstellar sources, offering a unique complement to recent data from JWST and space missions such as Rosetta. These observational results will be supplemented with new gas-grain chemical models to provide a solid basis for elucidating their chemistry, yet not fully determined. This will be key to shed light on the life cycle of sulfur, linking our Solar System (e.g. meteorites, asteroids and planets) to the beginning of star and planet formation, and to disclose the onset of the prebiotic raw material that possibly triggered life on Earth.
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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)
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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-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European 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-2025-PF
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.