Integrating Plasma Physics with Cosmochemistry to Understand the Origin of Life: Work conducted at The Howard University Plasma Laboratory (HUPL)

Understanding the origins and evolution of our Solar System is a central objective in cosmochemistry, which seeks to elucidate the chemical compositions and processes that have shaped the solar system since its inception. While considerable progress has been made in studying the synthesis of organic compounds on Earth, significant questions remain unanswered. In recent years, the hypothesis that life may have originated during the Hadean Eon (4.6 to 4 billion years ago), as opposed to the Archean (4 to 2.5 billion years ago), has been of greater research interest in the field. Our research explores the synthesis of organic and inorganic compounds using advanced plasma-material-gas interaction techniques to investigate this hypothesis. In addition to examining plasma-driven pathways for organic matter formation on Earth—such as those initiated by meteoroid entry into the atmosphere—we also focus on the generation and existence of organic molecules within the early Solar Nebula. These studies provide valuable insights into the fundamental building blocks of life and the environmental conditions prevalent during the formation of the Solar System. To further these efforts, laboratory simulations of primordial conditions are integrated with empirical analysis and telescopic observations to identify and confirm organic molecules within the Interstellar Medium (ISM), offering important perspectives on the origins of life. This presentation will showcase HUPL's research on the formation of organic and inorganic compounds, and outline engagement opportunities for students, postdocs, and researchers in a psychologically safe, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.