Biosignatures for Astrobiology

About the Editors:Barbara Cavalazzi is Professor at the University of Bologna and appointed as Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg. She is expert in high-resolution analytical technics applied to microbialpalaeontology, and in field geology and Mars analogues.Frances Westall is Director of Research at the CNRS and Head of the Astrobiology Group in Orléans. President of the European Astrobiology Network Association, she is a specialist on microbial biosignatures, Early Earth geology and is part of the ExoMars2020 rover mission.

• Foreword.- Preface.- Chemical Biosignatures at the Origins.- Organic Matter in Interplanetary Dusts and  Meteorites.- Biosignatures of Cellular Components and Metabolic Activity.- The Deep Subseafloor and Biosignatures.- A Systematic Way to Life Detection – Combining Field, Lab and Space Research in Low Earth Orbit.- Mineralogical Identification of Traces of Life.- Biosignatures in Deep Time.- The Search for Biosignatures in Martian Meteorite Allan Hills 84001.- Role of Mineral Surfaces in Prebiotic Processes and Space-like Conditions.- Photochemistry and Photoreactions of Organic Molecules in Space.- Exoplanetary Biosignatures for Astrobiology.- The Enigma of Methane on Mars.- Detection of Biosignatures Using Raman Spectroscopy.- Searching for Signs of Life on Other Planets: Mars a Case Study.- The History and Philosophy of Biosignatures.

“Biosignatures for Astrobiology provides insight into one of the most intriguing and progressive fields in science— exploration for life elsewhere in the universe. … Most chapters are accessible to undergraduate students, but this book is best suited for researchers and graduate students.” (N. W. Hinman, Choice, Vol. 56 (9), May, 2019)​