04-9-1112-2013/2022
 
Priority: 1
   
Status: Being concluded
 
 
Research on Cosmic Matter on 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, Russia, United Kingdom, USA.

Issues addressed and main goals of research:
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 extremophile organisms, 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 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 results in the current year:
  • To continue the search for and study of microfossils in meteorites and terrestrial rocks using electron microscopy.

  • To conduct neutron activation analysis of meteorites and cosmic dust.

  • To continue research on the synthesis of complex prebiotic compounds from formamide under the action of accelerated ions using meteorites and minerals of terrestrial origin as catalysts.

  • To continue data collection and processing (electronic microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy images) to create an illustrated atlas of microfossils in carbonaceous chondrites.

  • To study extremophiles of the underground biosphere, weathering crusts, and permafrost.
List of projects:
  Project Leader Priority
(period of realisation)
1. Research on cosmic matter on
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   (2013-2022)

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
Modeling
  LRB А.N. Afanasyeva, A.K. Rymin
2. Research on the synthesis of
complex prebiotic compounds
from formamide		 R. Saladino
Data taking
Realization
Modeling
  LRB M.I. Kapralov, E.А. Saprykin
3. Biogeochemical and biological
studies of cosmic dust		 V.A. Tselmovich
Data taking
Realization
Modeling
4. Cosmic matter research with
nuclear physics methods		 V.N. Shvetsov
(FLNP)
Data taking
Realization
Modeling
  FLNP M.V. Frontasyeva, I. Zinicovscaia
 
Collaboration
 
Country or International Organization City Institute or laboratory
Italy Rome Univ. "La Sapienza"
  Viterbo UNITUS
Russia Borok IPE RAS
  Moscow IGEM RAS
    IKI RAS
    INMI RAS
    MSU
    PIN RAS
  Novosibirsk BIC SB RAS
United Kingdom Buckingham UB
USA Athens, AL ASU