Paper Alert! New Astrobiology Publication from the Yeşilbaş Lab in JACS Au
Mechanistic pathway for fungus-mediated hematite dissolution and iron redox transformation. Image Credit: Dos Santos, A. et. al (2025) JACS Au, DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.5c01365I.
Congratulations to our Kempe postdoc fellow Alef and PI Merve on a new Mars astrobiology paper!!
We are excited to share our latest astrobiology paper published in JACS Au, led by our Kempe postdoc Alef dos Santos, with our PI Merve Yeşilbaş as corresponding authors, in collaboration with international colleagues! 🌟
This study investigates how an extremophilic black fungus interacts with iron-rich minerals under Mars-analogue conditions. The results show that these organisms can chemically alter the Martian iron mineral hematite, mobilizing iron and producing stable molecular and mineral fingerprints that are highly relevant for biosignature detection.
By integrating geochemistry, genomics, and metabolomics, this work provides new insight into microbe–mineral interactions and identifies biosignatures that could be targeted by current and future Mars missions, including ExoMars. The study highlights how interdisciplinary laboratory experiments can directly inform planetary exploration strategies.
Big congratulations to Alef and the entire team on this fantastic achievement! Way to go, Alef!!🚀👨🚀