The hyperthermophilic origin of life revisited

We revisit the case for the hyperthermophilic scenario for the origin of life and the last common ancestor. Evidence includes studies of phylogenetic trees, rRNA, G and C content, hyperthermophilic proteins, correlations between maximal temperature tolerances and genetic distances, saline stabilization of DNA/RNA, and the inferred climatic temperatures of the early Earth. Although some doubts remain, the case for hot biogenesis and the last common ancestor has gotten stronger.

Homochirality as the signature of life: the SETH Cigar

A characteristic hallmark of life is its homochirality: all biomolecules are usually of one hand, e.g. on Earth life uses only L-amino acids for protein synthesis and not their D mirror images. It is therefore suggested that a search for extra-terrestrial life can be approached as a Search for Extra-Terrestrial Homochirality (SETH). A novel miniaturized space polarimeter, called the SETH Cigar, is described which could he used to detect optical rotation as the homochiral signature of life on other planets. Moving parts are avoided by replacing the normal rotating polarizer by multiple fixed polarizers at different angles as in the eye of the bee. It is believed that homochirality will be found in the subsurface layers on Mars as a relic of extinct life.

Identification of gasoline lead in children's blood using isotopic analysis

The isotopic composition and concentrations of lead were measured, using mass spectrometric analysis, in blood drawn from 14 young children who lived in Washington, D.C. The isotopic composition of lead in ambient air, which reflects the changing sources of gasoline lead, was also determined for the period of sampling. Blood lead concentrations ranged from 4.38 to 24.7 micrograms/100 g blood. Based on linear patterns that involved ratios of all four isotopes consistent with two component mixing, we estimate a minimum contribution of recent gasoline lead ranging from 0 to 57% of the blood lead burden.