Spaceward Bound Geoffrey Payton

What is Spaceward Bound Program developed for future and current Science and Math Teachers to bring NASA related science into the class room – CSU Desert Research Station in Zzyzx – Mojave Desert Study of Analogs – Extremophiles – Geological Man it must have been HOT and BOOOORING!

Map of Zzyzx,CA

What Are Extremophiles Organisms that live in extreme environments – Extreme- Places that humans can not normally tolerate DUDE! THAT’S ME!!! I’m EXTREME

Why Study Extremophiles? Helps to establish a ‘threshold’ for life – Tells us more about the most extreme scenarios where life is possible – We can then apply this information to outer space Expands the horizons of Viable Planets – Analogous for extraterrestrial life Enables us to look for life in areas where life was previously thought to not be able to survive Helps us identify what life would be like on other planets, in these extreme environments

Extremophiles – Live in extreme environments Halophiles Thermophiles Acidophile Alkaliphile Radioresistant Xerophile Those are my PEEPS RIGHT THURRR!

Extremophiles Halophiles- Lives in High salt concentrations Thermophiles- Lives in Extreme Environments Acidophile- Lives in High pH Alkaliphile- Lives in Low pH Radioresistant- Resistant to Radiation Xerophile- Lives in Dry environments

Tardigrade/Water Bears Chernobyl Fungus Methane Ice Worm D. radiodurans

What type of Extremophile would we study in the Mojave Desert? Radioresistant Xerophiles Halophiles Thermophiles Acidophiles Alkaliphiles

As an Astronaut, how would you know these Soil Crusts are alive? How do you test for life on Mars? – ATP! – ATP is the primary product of metabolism and is one of the hallmarks of life – You can test for ATP in several ways Measuring metabolism (eating food…) ATPmeter – Redox dyes for measuring metabolism First take samples Hallmark like the card?!