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► Journal MenuSpecial Issue "Challenges in Astrobiology"
A special issue of Challenges (ISSN 2078-1547).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2014)
Special Issue Editors
Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Vera M. Kolb
Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 900 Wood Road, Kenosha, WI 53141-2000, USA
Website | E-Mail Phone: 262-595-2133 Fax: +262 595 2056 Interests: origins of life; prebiotic chemistry; chemical evolution of organics; prebiotic organic reactions in water and in the solid state; astrobiology; definitions of life |
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Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Jesus Martinez-Frias
Instituto de Geociencias, IGEO (CSIC-UCM), C/ Del Doctor Severo Ochoa 7, Facultad de Medicina (Edificio Entrepabellones 7 y 8), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Website | E-Mail Phone: +34 91 3944829 Fax: +34 91 3944798 Interests: planetary geology; astrobiology; natural resources of near earth space and sustainability; geo and biomarkers; extreme environments and planetary habitability; geodiversity and biodiversity; natural hazards and planetary ecosystems; mineralogy; geoethics in earth and space sciences; geoeducation; science and technology for development; emerging sciences, cultural implications; new paradigms |
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Astrobiology as science has numerous challenges. We list here the challenges for which we would like contributors of this special issue to address: Definition of life; Origins of life: what came first, genetic material, such as RNA, or proteins; Origins of chirality in the biochemical molecules; Problems in functioning of the biomolecules which do not have proper chirality or have a mixed chirality; Viruses and the origins of life; Viroids and subviral particles: are they close to the RNA world; The RNA world: is it a result of a genetic takeover from a simpler system; Evolution of life: punctuated equilibria, graduated equilibria; Catastrophic events on Early Earth: did they destroy the original life; Chemistry on meteorites and asteroids: what does it tell us about the extraterrestrial chemical possibilities; Did life arise on the Earth several times; Future of life on Earth: what will happen when Sun heats up; Extraterrestrial life: is it similar to ours; Planetary protection: are we doing a good job; Protection of Earth as the host for life on Earth: are we doing a good job; Biogeomarkers identification; and Habitability: from microbes to humans.
Prof. Dr. Vera M. Kolb
Prof. Dr. Jesus Martinez-Frias
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Challenges is an international peer-reviewed open access biannual journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) is waived for well-prepared manuscripts submitted to this issue. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.