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NASA Scientist to Discuss ‘The Recent Discovery of Organic Matter Preserved in 3-billion-year-old Mudstones on Mars’ at Library of Congress Lecture

The public is invited to a free lecture called ‘A Mud Matter: The Recent Discovery of Organic Matter Preserved in 3-billion-year-old Mudstones on Mars,’ with Dr. Jennifer Eigenbrode, NASA research scientist. The talk will occur in the Pickford Theater, third floor, Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT.

A woman smiles in front of a photo of Mars.
Jennifer Eigenbrode Credits: NASA/W. Hrybyk

Recently NASA’s Curiosity rover found “tough” organic molecules, containing carbon and sulfur, in rocks from an ancient Martian lakebed. Dr. Jennifer Eigenbrode will discuss the discovery, how the organic matter might have been preserved and its possible sources, as well as the significance of the discovery as it pertains to the future search for signs of life on Mars.  

Jennifer Eigenbrode is an interdisciplinary astrobiologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, specializing in organic chemistry, geology, and potential biology (a.k.a. organic (bio)geochemistry) of Martian and ocean-world environments. As a Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) collaborator and participating scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, she has focused on the in situ detection and preservation of organic molecules in irradiated sediments at the Martian surface. Her work aims to improve planetary mission design, contamination control, and instrument measurements that will enable the search for life beyond Earth.

She is a speaker in the 2019 NASA Goddard Lectures Series at the Library of Congress. Earlier talks in the NASA series included the topics of space weather, improved global water security and sustainability, how Mars has changed over time, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

The Library of Congress maintains one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientific and technical information in the world. The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world and holds nearly 151.8 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The Library serves both Congress and the nation online and on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill.

For inquiries about this or upcoming talks at the Library of Congress, the public can contact the library’s Science, Technology and Business Division at 202-707-5664. ADA accommodations should be requested five business days in advance at 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or ada@loc.gov.

The lecture will be later broadcast on the library’s webcast page and YouTube channel “Topics in Science” playlist.  

For directions, visit: http://www.loc.gov/visit/maps-and-floor-plans/ or www.loc.gov

For information about Dr. Eigenbrode, visit: https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/jennifer.l.eigenbrode

For a Q&A with Dr. Eigenbrode, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/jennifer-eigenbrode-asks-if-we-are-alone-in-the-universe

Banner image: Recently NASA’s Curiosity rover found “tough” organic molecules, containing carbon and sulfur, in rocks from an ancient Martian lakebed. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-4044
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov

Stephanie Marcus
Library of Congress, Washington
202-707-1192
smar@loc.gov