Course: Key Experiments in Astrobiology (1301-402)

Persons:

• Dr. Stefan Fox (verantwortlich)

Type of Course:

lecture

In-Class Hours Per Week:

1

Contents:

This lecture gives an overview about seminal experiments in different fields of astrobiological research. Findings from laboratory and field studies, space missions, and astronomical and astrochemical observations will be presented. A focus will be on the practical aspects of simulation experiments, space missions, and chemical analyses.
Some examples of topics covered are “studies on the interstellar medium, exoplanets, and small celestial bodies (comets, asteroids, meteorites)”, “experimental prebiotic chemistry: amino acids, Miller-type experiments, the formose reaction, protein and RNA world hypothesis”, “field studies at volcanic locations (hot-volcanic-coast scenario)”, and “analytical methods”.

Literature:

Plaxco, K. W., Gross, M.: Astrobiology - A Brief Introduction, 2nd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2011.
Rothery, D. A., Gilmour, I., Sephton, M. A. (eds.): An Introduction to Astrobiology, revised edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2011.
Sullivan III, W. T., Baross, J. A. (eds.): Planets and Life - The Emerging Science of Astrobiology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2007.

Location:

Hohenheim

Remarks:

The topics covered in this lecture are partly aligned to the contents of the “Practical course in chemical evolution”.

Module:

• 1301-400 Astrobiology (compulsory)

eLearning:

Course in ILIAS