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IONIZING RADIATION. “Studies of ionizing radiation, on the other hand, have mostly been associated with health-effects on humans and studies of radiation resistance on microbes. By definition, ionizing radiation has the energy to ionize, or to eject at least one electron from a neutral atom or a molecule, which is 13.6 eV for a neutral hydrogen atom, for example. Ionizing radiation can interact with DNA and cause reparable or irreparable damage, depending on the type and energy of the radiation.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

BEYOND RADIOACTIVITY. “Radiation in the form of photons is the primary way by which solar energy is transferred to living systems. The energy of a typical photon is between 2 and 3 eV (visible red, 1.8 eV and visible blue, 3.1 eV), and an abundant supply of such photons makes it convenient for life to utilize it for metabolic purposes. Even though most of the energy is lost in heat, the overall efficiency of 0.1–8% is sufficient to power metabolism.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

THE PAPER. “Two mechanisms are proposed through which Galactic cosmic ray-induced secondary particles can be utilized for biological use in subsurface environments: (i) Galactic cosmic rays injecting energy in the environment through particle-induced radiolysis and (ii) organic synthesis from Galactic cosmic rays secondaries interacting with the medium. Laboratory experiments to test these hypotheses are also proposed. Implications of these mechanisms on finding life in the Solar System and elsewhere in the Universe are discussed.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

RADIOLYTIC BACTERIA INSPIRATION. “Bacterium Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator, found 2.8 km deep in a South African mine, harvests energy from radiolysis, induced by particles emitted from radioactive U, Th and K present in surrounding rock. Another radiation source in the subsurface environments is secondary particles generated by galactic cosmic rays (GCRs).” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2016.0459 View in LinkedIn

THE QUESTION. “Photosynthesis is a mechanism developed by terrestrial life to utilize the energy from photons of solar origin for biological use. Subsurface regions are isolated from the photosphere, and consequently are incapable of utilizing this energy. This opens up the opportunity for life to evolve alternative mechanisms for harvesting available energy.” https://lnkd.in/eVkuKCS View in LinkedIn

LIFE POWERED BY RADIOACTIVITY. “A bizarre microbe found deep in a gold mine in South Africa could provide a model for how life might survive in seemingly uninhabitable environments through the cosmos. Known as Desulforudis audaxviator, the rod-shaped bacterium thrives 2.8 kilometers underground in a habitat devoid of the things that power the vast majority of life on Earth—light, oxygen, and carbon. Instead, this “gold mine bug” gets energy from radioactive uranium in the depths of the mine. Now, scientists predict that life elsewhere in the universe might also feed off of radiation, especially radiation raining down from space.” https://lnkd.in/dTTZx97 View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE focuses on a very thoughtful article on astrobiology by the computational physicist, Dr Dimitri Atri. The article is entitled ‘On the possibility of galactic cosmic ray-induced radiolysis-powered life in subsurface environments in the Universe.’ It is often said that 21st century biology is where physics was in the 19th century; contributing to this is the fact that current biology has two monumental failings: (1) no acceptable explanation for the origin of life, and (2) no consensus definition for what life is. This excellent article tackles a part of the first open question. https://lnkd.in/d_zYZ9Z View in LinkedIn

The consequence of thinking. View in LinkedIn

MAGNETIC IMPACTS. “Magnetic or electromagnetic fields have shown effects on morphogenesis from different initial explants; on growth-related parameters of in vitro shoots, roots, somatic embryos, and callus; and on the photosynthetic pigment profile, level of stress-induced alanine production, activity of stress-related enzymes, and endogenous levels of cytokinins and auxins.” https://lnkd.in/dEMTV8A View in LinkedIn

PLANETARY MAGNETISM. “The geomagnetic field (GMF) is a natural component of our environment. Plants, which are known to sense different wavelengths of light, respond to gravity, react to touch and electrical signaling, cannot escape the effect of GMF. While phototropism, gravitropism, and tigmotropism have been thoroughly studied, the impact of GMF on plant growth and development is not well-understood.” https://lnkd.in/dCeCN2g View in LinkedIn