Research at the ACA
The earliest life on Earth was microbial, and predictions about possible life elsewhere in the Solar System focus on microbes. Together these aspects define the core of the Centre's research. There is also research being undertaken in physics, astronomy, cosmology and the media. Below is a full list of research projects by ACA members and their students. Please follow the links for more information
Geology/Chemistry (Evolution of Life, Geochemistry, Earth History)
>> Ancient hydrothermal systems - McArthur River lead-zinc deposit
>> Ancient hydrothermal systems - Mount Painter/Mount Gee hydrothermal province
>> Ancient hydrothermal systems - General
>> Earliest life on Earth - the 3.45 Ga Trendall stromatolite locality, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia
>> The evolution of life on Earth - fossils & environmental geochemistry
>> The evolution of life on Earth - fossils & environmental geochemistry
>> Microfossils or mineralic artefacts?
>> Acraman impact event
Biology (Microbial Ecology)
>> Modern hydrothermal systems - Paralana radon hot spring
>> Microbial diversity in extreme environments
>> Genetic diversity of cyanobacteria
>> Structure, function and molecular biology of chloroplast proteins in light-harvesting eukaryotic algae
Physics (Astronomy/Cosmology)
>> Origin of chirality in biological molecules
>> AAO/ACA Planetary Astronomy site
>> Remote sensing of the atmosphere of Venus
>> Detecting extrasolar planets using polarimetry
>> Cosmology
>> Varying constants
Philosophy (Origins of Life/Creation Myths)
>> Quantum information theory and the origin of life
>> Creation myths in astrobiology
>> Astrobiology and the media
Last Updated: Sep 2006