Environmental Nanobiology
This project in applied physics or applied microscopy investigates the structure of natural metallic oxide films from wetlands. In most cases these are mixed-valent iron oxide films, but we have found mixed-valent ferromanganese films and other transition metal oxides in natural conditions. This project involves new techniques for analysis by high Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM, Photo- Emission Electron Microscopy (PEM or PEEM). Comparative and correlative microscopy in concert with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDXS) shows that biological components and bioremediation play important roles in metal nutrient cycling and sequestration, much of which can only be resolved by application of microscopical methods developed in this laboratory. Indeed, the developmental aspects of new instrumentation includes the application of the instruments to structural and functional studies. These are studies of the air-water interface, an area of research seldom examined by the instruments discussed here, including sampling methods and analysis for reliable comparative studies.
Environmental Astrobiology
Metallic Oxide surface films are an important component of the air-water interface on planet Earth. These films may have played a key role in the origin of life on Earth as well as on other planets and assist in the developing theories of early life through the analysis of the air-water interface as habitat as well as the concepts of habitability.