Nitrogen in Extraterrestrial Environments: Clues to the Possible Presence of Life

Research Article| October 01, 2013 Nitrogen in Extraterrestrial Environments: Clues to the Possible Presence of Life Marilyn L. Fogel; Marilyn L. Fogel 1University of California, Merced, School of Natural Sciences5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USAE-mail: mfogel@ucmerced.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew Steele Andrew Steele 2Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, DC 20015, USAE-mail: asteele@ciw.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Marilyn L. Fogel 1University of California, Merced, School of Natural Sciences5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USAE-mail: mfogel@ucmerced.edu Andrew Steele 2Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, DC 20015, USAE-mail: asteele@ciw.edu Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2013 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2013) 9 (5): 367–372. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.9.5.367 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Marilyn L. Fogel, Andrew Steele; Nitrogen in Extraterrestrial Environments: Clues to the Possible Presence of Life. Elements 2013;; 9 (5): 367–372. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.9.5.367 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract Nitrogen is a critical element for living organisms on Earth. While atmospheric N2 is plentiful, organisms find it difficult to metabolize, requiring chemical modifications that are rare or absent in abiotic chemistry. Living organisms reduce N2 to NH3 with elaborate, energy-intensive, biochemical processing to create nitrogen-bearing carbon compounds essential for life. Astrobiologists have long discussed what role nitrogen could play in shaping life on other planets. Work on Martian meteorites has provided new insights into nitrogen cycling on Mars. Research on meteorites ties into investigations by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory that are providing on-the-ground information to piece together a more cohesive picture of the importance of nitrogen for establishing a habitable environment. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.