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Arens, F.L.* ; Uhl, J. ; Schmitt-Kopplin, P. ; Karger, C.* ; Mangelsdorf, K.* ; Sager, C.* ; Airo, A.* ; Valenzuela, B.* ; Zamorano, P.* ; Schulze-Makuch, D.*

Exploring organic compound preservation through long-term in situ experiments in the Atacama desert and the relevance for Mars.

Sci. Rep. 15:29957 (2025)

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The preservation of organic compounds under extreme environmental conditions remains a critical challenge for both terrestrial ecology applications on Earth and astrobiology. In a novel long-term field experiment over 8 months, we exposed biomolecules and a model organism to natural hyperarid conditions of the Atacama Desert, one of the best Mars analog environments. We used custom-designed sample plates for long-term exposure to simulate environmental stresses that biomolecules are exposed naturally in a hyperarid environment. The multiple stressors included extreme temperature fluctuations, associated humidity changes, and intense solar irradiation. Our field experiment complements and extends the insights obtained from previously conducted short-term laboratory experiments. To investigate biomolecule stability, we embedded adenosine triphosphate (ATP), chlorophyll-a, and the cyanobacterium Chrooccoccidiopsis in various Mars-relevant sediments with addition of chloride and perchlorate. Our findings, which include the rapid degradation of these biomolecules, the detection of more stable degradation products, and the identification of non-enzymatic degradation pathways, reveal the critical influence of substrate and salt types on biomolecule stability. Valuable insights into biosignature preservation under extreme terrestrial conditions and a better understanding of organic signal interpretations were gained, which will provide critical insights for future Mars missions, especially when searching for past or present life.

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