Organic Matter in the Solar System: Pathways from Interstellar Matter to Insurgence of Life

Dear Colleagues,

We are announcing the first Special Issue of the journal Universe devoted to planetary sciences. The current Issue focuses on the organic matter in the Solar System, its origin, composition, evolutionary processes, and pathways to the insurgence of life. We are aiming to correlate results coming from very different targets and techniques, including those from the recent planetary missions to icy moons (Cassini, New Horizon), asteroids (Dawn), comets (Rosetta), with meteorites and interplanetary dust laboratory data, and spectral and microwave observations of exoplanets and ISM (Spitzer, ALMA). With the approaching sample returns from nearby asteroids (OSIRIS-Rex, Hayabusa2) and Mars, this is the right time to organize and correlate results derived from different investigation techniques: isotopic composition, anhydrous or aqueous alteration processes, and aliphatic (C-H) to aromatic (C-C) phase ratio are among the primary observables useful for determining if organic matter currently found in primitive bodies predates solar formation or if it was indeed processed more recently within the solar system. Investigations of C-bearing molecules, from simple hydrocarbon rings and aliphatic chains to complex macromolecular assemblages like PAHs and IOMs, and their mixing with ices are of primary interest to explore their thermal, photochemical, and radiation-induced evolution, possibly resulting in the formation of biogenic molecules. Case studies, reviews, models, and laboratory investigations linked to organic matter topics are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Gianrico Filacchione
Prof. Dr. Maria Cristina de Sanctis
Dr. Kelly E. Miller
Guest Editors

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