Steven A. Benner – Page 2 – The Primordial Scoop

Synthesis has explored the universe of possible Darwinian informational biopolymers

Carol Cleland and David Grinspoon argue that synthetic biologists explore only narrowly outside of the structures that they know from natural biology. Not so.

By Steven A. Benner May 26, 2022Single ScoopsNo Comments

Astrobiology Synthetic Biology

But We Have More Than One Example …

Carol despairs of having truly agnostic biosignatures to detect alien life, as it is impossible to extrapolate from the one example of life that we know. But that is the gift of synthetic biology, inductive logic, and reductionism. We induce agnostic biosignatures by understanding the chemistry required for biology.

By Steven A. Benner April 21, 2022Astrobiology, Synthetic BiologyNo Comments

Life Life on Mars NASA Synthetic Biology

NASA Headquarters Misses the Ball. Polyelectrolytes as the Key to Agnostic Life Finding

Synthetic biology, 20 years ago, taught NASA how to search generally, agnostically, and universally for alien life. NASA still does not understand the opportunity

By Steven A. Benner April 16, 2022Life, Life on Mars, NASA, Synthetic BiologyNo Comments

Astrobiology NASA

Is ignorance bliss? NASA’s NfoLD Workshop

Cite as: Benner, S. A. (2022) "Is ignorance bliss? NASA’s NfoLD Workshop". Primordial Scoop, e20220403. https://doi.org/10.52400/TMUG1175 One approach to find new ways to solve an old problem begins by throwing…

By Steven A. Benner April 3, 2022Astrobiology, NASANo Comments

Astrobiology NASA

Science traceability matrices. Organized thinking, or organized biases?

NASA's workshop this week seeks to use STMs to speed the creation of new ideas to guide missions to detect life in the Solar System. But do STMs simply provide a veneer of respectability to old ideas, blocking the emergence of the new?

By Steven A. Benner March 25, 2022Astrobiology, NASANo Comments

Astrobiology NASA

Is NASA making itself irrelevant to the search for life in the cosmos?

NASA holds this week a workshop to consider looking (again) for existing life on Mars … but only 20 years from now. By then, humans may have been on Mars for a decade, thanks to Elon Musk, or (maybe) someone less interested in planetary protection. Thus, in 2042, detecting indigenous Martian life will likely be much more difficult. NASA will be too late.

By Steven A. Benner March 23, 2022Astrobiology, NASANo Comments

Astrobiology Life on Mars Single Scoops

Benzoic acid on Mars. A 20 year old prediction come true?

Millan et al. just reported the discovery of benzoic acid in the dunes on Mars. Remarkably, benzoic acid was predicted 20 years ago to be on Mars as a product of organics falling to Mars via meteorite. And possibly ... life. Simply by understanding basic organic chemistry.

By Steven A. Benner November 4, 2021Astrobiology, Life on Mars, Single ScoopsNo Comments

Single Scoops

The Importance of Chemistry in Astrobiology. Sandra Pizzarello

Cite as: Benner, S. A. (2021) "The Importance of Chemistry in Astrobiology. Sandra Pizzarello". Primordial Scoop, 2021, e1102. https://doi.org/10.52400/YQUF9286 Sandra Pizzarello passed away a few days ago, and we have…

By Steven A. Benner November 2, 2021Single Scoops1 Comment