04-9-1112-2013/2019
 
Priority: 1
   
Status: In-progress
Research on Cosmic Matter on the Earth and in Nearby Space; 
Research on the Biological and Geochemical Specifics 
of the Early Earth

 

Leaders:     E.A. Krasavin
A.Yu. Rozanov 
V.N. Shvetsov


Participating Countries and International Organizations:
Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom, USA. 

Scientific Programme:
Research and development will include: 

  • Biogeochemical studies of cosmic dust 

  • Studies of biofossils and organic compounds in meteorites and ancient terrestrial rocks 

  • Studies of cosmic matter with nuclear physics methods 

  • As a result of studying and generalizing the research materials on modern and fossil cosmic dust as well as ancient terrestrial objects and modern organisms of the extreme ecosystems, data will be obtained on the forms of ancient terrestrial and extraterrestrial life.

As the results:

  • Obtaining new data on the amount of cosmic matter falling on the whole Earth's surface. Obtaining data on the dynamics of cosmic dust fallout on large territories. 

  • Evaluation of the following parameters of particles of extraterrestrial origin: morphology, structure, size distribution, and elemental, isotopic, and mineralogical composition. Assessment of changes in these characteristics in different plates in different time intervals. 

  • Creation of a cosmic dust collection, where dust microparticles will be characterized by quantity (concentration) and the size distribution. 

  • Obtaining new information on the role of microorganisms in the formation and evolution of life on the Earth and processes of weathering, precipitation growth, etc. 

  • Research on the synthesis of complex prebiotic compounds from formamide under exposure to ionizing radiations of different qualities with meteorite samples as catalysts. 

  • Generalization of the obtained data on the forms of ancient terrestrial and, possibly, extraterrestrial life.

Expected main results in 2018:

  • To continue the electron microscopy-based detection and study of biofossils and organic matter in meteorites and the most ancient terrestrial rocks.

  • To continue the diagnostics of microorganism remnants in Archaean and Proterozoic rocks and evaluation of their organization level with nuclear physics methods. 

  • To continue research on the synthesis of complex prebiotic compounds from formamide under exposure to accelerated ions with different linear energy transfer. 

  • To study the nature of the catalysts participating in the synthesis of complex prebiotic compounds from formamide. 

List of projects:
  Project Leader Priority 
(period of realisation)
1. Research on cosmic matter on 
the Earth and in nearby space;
research on the biological and 
geochemical specifics of the early Earth
E.A. Krasavin
Scientific leader:
A.YU. Rozanov
1   (2013-2019)
List of Activities
  Activity or Experiment Leaders
Status
  Laboratory or other
Division of JINR
Main researchers
1. Studies of biofossils in meteorites and ancient terrestrial rocks A.Yu. Rozanov
E.A. Krasavin
Data taking
Realization
Simulation
  LRB A.K. Ryumin + 1 engineer
2. Research on the synthesis of complex prebiotic compounds 
from formamide
R. Saladino
Data taking
Realization
Simulation
  LRB M.I. Kapralov + 1 student
3. Biogeochemical and biological studies of cosmic dust L.M. Gindilis
Data taking
Realization
Simulation
  LRB I.A. Bobrikov + 2 engineers
4. Cosmic matter research with nuclear physics methods V.N. Shvetsov
(FLNP)
Data taking
Realization
Simulation
  FLNP A.Yu. Dmitriev, M.V. Frontasyeva, P.V. Sedyshev

 

Collaboration
Country or International
Organization
City Institute or Laboratory
Italy Rome Univ. "La Sapienza"  
  Viterbo UNITUS  
Norway Trondheim NTNU  
Poland Poznan AMU  
Romania Bucharest UB  
  Ia si UAIC  
Russia Moscow IGEM RAS  
    IKI RAS  
    MSU  
    PIN RAS  
    SAI MSU  
  Borok IPE RAS  
  Gatchina NRC KI PNPI  
  Novosibirsk BIC SB RAS  
United Kingdom Buckingham UB  
USA Athens, AL ASU