III. Ecosmos: A Revolutionary Fertile, Habitable, Solar-Bioplanet, Incubator Lifescape

G. An Astrochemistry to Astrobiological Spontaneity

Vakoch, Douglas and Matthew Dowd, eds. The Drake Equation: Estimating the Prevalence of Extraterrestrial Life through the Ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015. The collection is a 2010s retrospective and update of astronomer Frank Drake’s (who at 85 writes a Foreword) 1961 attempt to estimate the probability of extraterrestrial civilizations. As an equation, it involves seven aspects: the rate of galactic star formation, how many suns have planets, the number of orbital worlds, how many are then habitable, then bearing intelligent life, onto communicative civilizations, and finally their relative lifetime. The book proceeds with chapters which consider both pre-1960 versions, and what has been learned since for each component. Of course the 21st century breakthrough discoveries of prolific orbital planets factors largely. Historian Steven Dick introduces, while e.g., Chris Impey views solar systems, David Des Marais on the likelihood of life, and Seth Shostak aptly looks at the detection of signals. The chapter Fraction of Life-Bearing Planets on Which Intelligent Life Emerges, fi, 1961 to the Present by ethnologist Lori Marino is reviewed separately.

Vakoch, Douglas, ed. Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2011. Wherein leading advocates such as Jull Tarter, Seth Shostak, Samantha Blair, Frank Drake, Kathryn Denning, and many others entertain celestial visions from exoplanets to an intergalactic Rosetta language. A typical paper might be “Pragmatism, Cosmocentrism, and Proportional consultation for CETI” by Marc Lupisella.

In April 2010, fifty years to the month after the first experiment in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), scholars from a range of disciplines--including astronomy, mathematics, anthropology, history, and cognitive science--gathered at NASA's biennial Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) for a series of sessions on the search for intelligent life. This book highlights the most recent developments in SETI discussed at that conference, emphasizing the ways that SETI has grown since its inception. The volume covers three broad themes: First, leading researchers examine the latest developments in observational SETI programs, as well as innovative proposals for new search strategies and novel approaches to signal processing. Second, both proponents and opponents of "Active SETI" debate whether humankind should be transmitting intentional signals to other possible civilizations, rather than only listening. Third, constructive proposals for interstellar messages are juxtaposed with critiques that ask whether any meaningful exchange is possible with an independently evolved civilization, given the constraints of contact at interstellar distances, where a round-trip exchange could take centuries or millennia. (Publisher)

Van de Sande, Marie. Chemical complexity and dust formation around evolved stars. arXiv:2408.08153.. In a paper for the conference proceedings of the IAU Symposium 383 - Astrochemistry VIII: From the First Galaxies to the Formation of Habitable Worlds, a Leiden Observatory astrochemist explains why these celestial environs provide a fertile laboratory to study prebiotic processions toward planetary cellular organisms. Once again we record how readily we ultimate beings can now individually and collectively carry out any scale of ecosmic retrospective. In regard, the result seems to be an imminent revolutionary realization and discovery of an actual organic procreativity.

The outflows of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are rich astrochemical laboratories from non-equilibrium chemistry close to the star, to dust formation further out, and photochemistry in the outer regions. However, exactly how dust condenses from the gas phase and grows is still unknown. Disagreements between observations and the predictions of chemical model contribute toward help to learning the link between these formations and to a 3D hydrochemical model. (Excerpt)

Van Dischoeck, Ewine. Astrochemistry of Dust, Ice and Gas. Faraday Discussions.. 168/9, 2014. Online at arXiv:1411.5280, the Leiden University and MPI Extraterrestrial Physics researcher describes a celestial expanse which by its innate nature appears as a fertile milieu for organic life and evolution. See also Water: From Clouds to Planets by Ewine van Dishoeck, et al at arXiv:1401.8103.

A brief introduction and overview of the astrochemistry of dust, ice and gas and their interplay is presented, aimed at non-specialists. The importance of basic chemical physics studies of critical reactions is illustrated through a number of recent examples. Such studies have also triggered new insight into chemistry, illustrating how astronomy and chemistry can enhance each other. Much of the chemistry in star- and planet-forming regions is now thought to be driven by gas-grain chemistry rather than pure gas-phase chemistry, and a critical discussion of the state of such models is given. Recent developments in studies of diffuse clouds and PDRs, cold dense clouds, hot cores, protoplanetary disks and exoplanetary atmospheres are summarized, both for simple and more complex molecules, with links to papers presented in this volume. In spite of many lingering uncertainties, the future of astrochemistry is bright: new observational facilities promise major advances in our understanding of the journey of gas, ice and dust from clouds to planets. (Abstract)

Van Dishoeck, Ewine. Astrochemistry: Overview and Challenges. arXiv:1710.05940. The Leiden Observatory professor of molecular astrophysics is also president-elect of the International Astronomical Union. This posting surveys the robust confirmation of an interstellar and extragalactic medium that seems to innately form and seed itself with increasingly complex chemicals and bioprecursors. Might one muse that they are just the materials that planets need to form and life to evolve so we peoples might achieve their intelligent description? It is to appear as a chapter in IAU Symposium 332: Astrochemistry VII: Through the Cosmos from Galaxies to Planets (2018). See also The Diverse Chemistry of Protoplanetary Disks as
Revealed by the JWST by Ewine van Dishoeck, et al at 2307.11817 for a review six years later.

This paper provides a brief overview of the journey of molecules through the Cosmos, from local diffuse interstellar clouds and PDRs to distant galaxies, and from cold dark clouds to hot star-forming cores, protoplanetary disks, planetesimals and exoplanets. Recent developments in each area are sketched and the importance of connecting astronomy with chemistry and other disciplines is emphasized. Fourteen challenges for the field of Astrochemistry in the coming decades are formulated. (Abstract)

Vukotic, Branislav and Milan Cirkovic. Astrobiological Complexity with Probabilistic Cellular Automata. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres. Online July, 2012. In an extensive paper, also arXiv:1206.3467, Astronomical Observatory Belgrade astrophysicists consider how a nonlinear “digital perspective” analysis might help quantify the appearance and proliferation of life, intelligence and civilizations across the Milky Way. See also their 2010 “Cellular Automation of Galactic Habitable Zone” at arXiv:1001.4624, and from Russia, “Where is Everybody: New Approach to the Fermi Paradox” arXiv:1007.2774 by I. V. Bezsudnov and A. A. Snarskii. And noted above, Cambridge University Press has published a major 2012 work by Cirkovic The Astrobiological landscape.

The search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence constitutes one of the major endeavors in science, but has yet been quantitatively modeled only rarely and in a cursory and superficial fashion. We argue that probabilistic cellular automata (PCA) represent the best quantitative framework for modeling the astrobiological history of the Milky Way and its Galactic Habitable Zone. The relevant astrobiological parameters are to be modeled as the elements of the input probability matrix for the PCA kernel. With the underlying simplicity of the cellular automata constructs, this approach enables a quick analysis of large and ambiguous space of the input parameters. We perform a simple clustering analysis of typical astrobiological histories with “Copernican” choice of input parameters and discuss the relevant boundary conditions of practical importance for planning and guiding empirical astrobiological and SETI projects. In addition to showing how the present framework is adaptable to more complex situations and updated observational databases from current and near-future space missions, we demonstrate how numerical results could offer a cautious rationale for continuation of practical SETI searches. (Abstract, Vukotic & Cirkovic)

The Fermi Paradox is the apparent contradiction between the high probability extraterrestrial civilizations' existence and the lack of contact with such civilizations. In general, solutions to Fermi's paradox come down to either estimation of Drake equation parameters i.e. our guesses about the potential number of extraterrestrial civilizations or simulation of civilizations development in the universe. We consider new type of cellular automata, that allows to analyze Fermi paradox. We introduce bonus stimulation model (BS-model) of development in cellular space (Universe) of objects (Civilizations). When civilizations get in touch they stimulate development each other, increasing their life time. We discovered nonlinear threshold behaviour total volume of civilizations in universe and on the basis of our model we built analogue of Drake equation. (Abstract, Bezsudnov & Snarskii)

Wang, Jai, et al. Interstellar formation of glyceric acid, the simplest sugar.. Science Advances. March 24, 2024. University of Hawaii and University of Mississippi (Ryan Fortenberry) cite their sweet detection of this organic mainstay compound. As the quotes imply, once again nature’s astrochemistry seems to possess an innate spontaneity to form just what life needs for the long cellular ovogenesis to our late retrospect description.

Glyceric acid [HOCH2CH(OH)COOH] is a key molecule in biochemical metabolic processes such as glycolysis. Although linked to the origins of life and identified in carbonaceous meteorites, the mechanisms of its formation have remained elusive. Here, we report the first abiotic synthesis of racemic glyceric acid via the radical-radical reaction of the hydroxycarbonyl radical with 1,2-dihydroxyethyl radical in low-temperature carbon dioxide and ethylene glycol ices. This work reveals the key pathways for glyceric acid synthesis through nonequilibrium reactions from profuse precursor molecules, advancing our fundamental knowledge of the formation of key biorelevant organics—sugar acids—in deep space. (Abstract)

Here, we demonstrate the very first abiotic synthesis of 1 in low-temperature (5 K) carbon dioxide and ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH, 16) ice mixtures. This was accomplished via the barrierless radical- radical eaction of the hydroxycarbonyl (HOĊO, 11) with the 1,2-dihydroxyethyl (HOĊHCH2OH, 17) radicals (Figs. 1 and 2). These model ices were exposed to energetic electrons mimicking secondary electrons generated in the track of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) pene-trating ices in cold molecular clouds aged a few million years. (1)

Webb, Stephen. If the Universe is Teeming with Aliens-- Where is Everybody? New York: Copernicus Books, 2002. A wide ranging survey, appropriate to the subject, which considers 50 possible answers to Enrico Fermi’s famous question about extraterrestrial life. Webb’s own persuasion is that they are not there at all, earth life is unique. In a second 2015 edition next, the intense phase of global scientific discovery since 2002 appears to confirm this.

Wogan,, Nicholas, et al. Origin of Life Molecules in the Atmosphere after Big Impacts on the Early Earth. arXiv:2307.09761. University of Washington, NASA Ames and Eureka Scientific, Oakland researchers are able to discern a novel factor which may have influenced how vital precursors were able to appear under harsh conditions. Indeed it rained then in meteoric material rich in ferrous ingredients which modified the atmosphere in life’s favor. So it seems again that however harsh and barren these roiling surfaces were, this primordial era could yet provide a conducive milieu. See also Thompson, Will, et al. Comparing Complex Chemistry in Neighboring Hot Cores by Will Thompson, et at at 230709495 for a similar situation.

The origin of life on Earth would benefit from a prebiotic atmosphere that produced nitriles, like HCN, which enable ribonucleotide synthesis. However, geochemical evidence suggests that Hadean air was relatively oxidizing with negligible photochemical molecules. These paradoxes are resolved by iron-rich asteroid impacts that reduced the atmosphere. Here, we study impact-generated reductions using new time-dependent, coupled chemistry and climate models.. (Excerpt)

Yamagishi, Akihiko, et al. Astrobiology: From the Origins of Life to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Singapore: Springer, 2019. The Japanese astroscientist editors, posted at the University of Toyko, Tohoku University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, achieve a comprehensive volume for this field with 31 chapters from Prebiotic Complex Organic Molecules in Space to An RNA World, Eukaryotes and Photosynthesis, Formation of Planetary Systems, and onto the Evolution of Intelligence on Earth and Cosmolinguistics: The Emergence of Language-Like Communication on a Habitable Planet (Abstract below).

The emergence of human language is one of the biggest wonders in the universe. In this chapter, I define "a language-like communication system" and examine the components for the emergence of such a system, not only on Earth but in any habitable planet. Language is a way to transmit an infinite variety of meanings by combining a finite number of tokens based on a set of rules. Thus, it enables compositional semantics. At least three components are necessary: segmentation of context and behavior, the association between them, and the honesty of the emitted signals. I also discuss the possibility of "language as it could be" on other planets. (Cosmolinguistics, Kazuo Okanoya)

Yamamoto, Satoshi. Introduction to Astrochemistry: Chemical Evolution from Interstellar Clouds to Star and Planet Formation.. International: Springer, 2017. A University of Tokyo biophysicist provides a later 2010s comprehensive technical survey from Molecular Abundances and Diffuse Clouds to Star and Planet Forming Regions.

This important book describes the basic principles of astrochemistry — an interdisciplinary field combining astronomy, physics, and chemistry — with particular emphasis on its physical and chemical background. Chemical processes in diffuse clouds, dense quiescent molecular clouds, star-forming regions, and protoplanetary disks are discussed, along with molecular spectroscopy and observational techniques. These contents provide astronomers with a comprehensive understanding of how interstellar matter is evolved and brought into stars and planets, which is ultimately related to the origin of the solar system.

Yang, Shuming, et al. Catalytic Role of HI in the Interstellar Synthesis of Complex Organic Molecules. arXiv:2305/11409. Guangxi University, Nanning, China add more evidence to nature’s consistent avail of these chemical activations even across vivifying celestial reaches.

Using quantum chemical calculations, we model the pathways for synthesizing two purine nucleobases, adenine and guanine, in the gas-phase interstellar environment, surrounded by neutral atomic hydrogen (HI). HI is found to actively facilitate a series of fundamental proton transfer processes of organic synthesis, including bond formation, cyclization, dehydrogenation, and H migration. The reactive potential barriers were significantly reduced in the alternative pathways created by HI, leading to an increased reaction rate. Our findings suggest that HI may serve as an effective catalyst for interstellar organic synthesis.

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