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DSSS: Molecules, Hot Water and Minerals: Ingredients for the Origin of Life?2 min read

by ESD News and Events on November 3, 2014

Announcements Events

    •    Who: Dimitri Sverjensky, Johns Hopkins University
    •    What:    Download the Flyer (pdf)
    •    Where: Building 66 Auditorium, hosted by Ben Gilbert
    •    When: 10:30 am to 12:00 noon, November 7, 2014
    •    Why: About the Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series

More Information

SverjenskyDimitri Sverjensky is a Professor of Geochemistry in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University. Over a period of more than 30 years, Sverjensky’s research interests in geochemistry have focused on the geochemistry of water-rock interactions, including the origins of sediment-hosted ore deposits and the chemistry of sedimentary basinal fluids, the geochemistry of mineral-water interfaces, and high temperature and pressure aqueous fluids in the deep Earth. The theoretical advances made in these areas of research are now being applied in two major projects: the role of mineral-water interfacial reactions in a hydrothermal origin of life; and the role of water in the Earth’s deep carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles.

Abstract

The microbiology that defines the cycling of the major chemical elements (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, iron on the hydrothermal geochemical environment. Chemical interactions occurring at interfaces between crystalline surfaces and aqueous solutions are crucial to an extraordinarily broad range of scientific and technological topics, including corrosion, heterogeneous catalysts, chemical sensors, and a host of essential everyday products including adhesives, paints, lubricants, dyes, solvents, and cleaners. Geochemists pay special attention to reactions that occur between mineral surfaces and aqueous species – interactions central to weathering and soil formation, hydrothermal ore deposition, biomineralization and biofilm formation, uptake and release of chemicals that affect water quality, and many other natural processes. Mineral-molecule interactions are also relevant to models of the origin of life, in such varied roles as the selection, concentration, protection, and assembly of biomolecules. These interactions also have immediate relevance to such diverse topics as microbial ecology, environmental monitoring, synthesis and purification of chiral pharmaceuticals, planetary life detection, nanofabrication, and development of artificial replacements for teeth and bones.

News & Events

Former Intern Emily Nagamoto Wins AGU Award1 min read

March 27, 2023

Former Science Undergraduate Laboratory Intern (SULI) Emily Nagamoto received an American Geophysical Union (AGU) Outstanding Presentation Award, which honors exceptional presentations given during AGU’s 2022 Fall meeting. She was mentored by Staff Scientist Charuleka Varadharajan and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Mohammed Ombadi during her Summer 2022 SULI term. Currently an undergraduate student in Duke University’s Nicholas…

EESA Scientists Investigate How Tropical Soil Microbes Might Respond to Future Droughts2 min read

March 14, 2023

As the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, tropical rainforests are just as critical to sustaining environmental and human systems as they are beautiful. Their unique climate with high temperatures, humidity, and precipitation promotes high primary productivity, which offsets high respiration, resulting in these ecosystems being one of the largest carbon sinks on Earth,…

Doubling Protected Lands for Biodiversity Could Require Tradeoffs With Other Land Uses, Study Finds4 min read

March 3, 2023

This article first appeared on lbl.gov. Scientists show how 30% protected land targets may not safeguard biodiversity hotspots and may negatively affect other sectors – and how data and analysis can support effective conservation and land use planning Although more than half the world’s countries have committed to protecting at least 30% of land and oceans…

Six Berkeley Lab Scientists Named AAAS Fellows6 min read

This article first appeared at lbl.gov Six researchers have been elected into the 2022 class of the American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has announced their 2022 Fellows, including six scientists from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). This lifetime honor, which follows…

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