Analyzing Biosignatures in Hydrothermal Systems
Lab Simulations of Hydrothermal Vents
Analysis of Planetary Analog Samples
Studying Planetary Geochemistry with Simulated Materials
Welcome to the Origins and Habitability Laboratory!
Research Directions
We are astrobiologists who study the origin of life and how life can exist on other worlds. Our group consists of geologists, biologists, chemists, engineers, and others. We work on a variety of projects to understand how geological conditions impact life in planetary environments such as early Earth, Mars, icy moons of the outer planets, and exoplanets.
Contact us to learn more about student, postdoc, collaboration, and visitor opportunities!
Recent Lab News
Origin of the electron
transport chain
Laurie Barge and Jessica Weber, along with members of the JPL led “Becoming Biotic” Ideas Lab for the Origins of Life team, authored a new paper in PNAS about the origins of the electron transport chain, a necessary system in biology that may have been present at the origin of life. (Figure from Goldman et al. 2023, PNAS)
Pigments as a Biosignature
A new study was published in Astrobiology by Jessica Weber, Laurie Barge, and OHL alum Laura Rodriguez, about prebiotic formation of colorful pigments. We review the biochemistry of pigments, their abiotic & prebiotic synthesis, and implications for using pigments as a biosignature.
New Grant Funded: Habitability of Enceladus
OHL PI Laurie Barge was recently awarded a new NASA Habitable Worlds grant to study new mechanisms for habitability in Saturn’s moon Enceladus. We will study whether the organics in Enceladus’ core could provide energy for life in this ocean world.
New Origin of Life Grant Funded
OHL PI Laurie Barge was recently awarded a new NASA Exobiology grant to study prebiotic chemistry in ancient hydrothermal chimneys. We will be studying carbon and mineral reactions in a hydrothermal reactor simulating vents on early Earth and ocean worlds. (Image credit: Tully Mahr & Bonnie Teece)
OHL Outreach Committee
Introducing the OHL’s Outreach Committee! The outreach committee was founded by and is led by students and postdocs. They organize outreach activities for the lab to participate in, manage the lab’s social media, and represent the OHL at outreach events.
Organic reactivity on Ceres
Recently published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, OHL PI Jessica Weber and OHL alum Ellen Czaplinski led a project investigating irradiation of prebiotic organic molecules under Ceres relevant conditions. We demonstrated reactivity of pyruvate with and without iron minerals and determined that irradiation increases reactivity.