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COSMIC RADIATION. “Life could evolve a variety of mechanisms to utilize such a large range of energy injected underground. It could produce molecular hydrogen and oxidants useful for life. Muons can both directly react with molecules present in the medium, and also indirectly through radiolysis products. A detailed description of all the chemical reactions including the intermediate steps can be found elsewhere.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues from last weekend and concludes this weekend featuring an intriguing article by Dimitra Atri on the possibilities of galactic cosmic ray powered life in the subterranean universe. Mankind has, at least in our latest technological incarnation, invested close to zero in curiosity about life beyond Earth. This remarkable state of affairs is a singular fact that defines human self-absorption, and gives a sobering context to a species who trashes their nest, wantonly exterminates other species, and ignores existential threats. View in LinkedIn

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EARTH IMPACT. “Solar flares and coronal mass ejections, the most catastrophic eruptions in our solar system, have been known to affect terrestrial environments and infrastructure.” https://lnkd.in/e8caAHQ View in LinkedIn

ARCHIVES. List of impressive solar storms. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_storms View in LinkedIn

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SUBSURFACE ALTERNATIVE. “Based on the studies cited above, an additional mechanism supporting subsurface life could be direct organic synthesis induced by Galactic cosmic rays-induced secondary particles, especially muons at greater depths. There is experimental evidence of the formation of amino acid precursors on exposure to high-energy particles. This mechanism could be especially important in the case of comets, as cosmic ray-induced ionization is believed to be the main driver of cometary organic chemistry.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

SURFACE FLAW OF EARLY STUDIES. “One common feature of these studies is that they all consider organic synthesis on the surface, which is true for high-energy photons such as UV, X-rays and low energy protons (approx. keV to MeV). However, for higher energy particles such as Galactic cosmic rays whose energies are approximately 10 GeV and beyond, the secondary particles penetrate below the surface. Particles such as electrons, positrons, neutrons and photons produced in interactions have very short ranges and are confined in a relatively small volume. Particles with the highest range are muons as shown in figure 2 and are the primary source of Galactic cosmic rays-induced radiation in such environments.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn