On the edge of habitability and the extremes of liquidity

• The physical and biological mechanisms that extend the equilibrium domain of liquid water into the ice region of the bulk phase diagram are examined in view of their importance for the enhancement of planetary habitability. The physical phenomena studied are the premelting of ice, which allows for films of liquid water at temperatures well below freezing, and the wetting of hygroscopic salts with the persistence of briny films even for thermodynamic conditions remote from those of bulk liquid water. Organisms are known to produce a variety of frost-suppressing substances, one of which, the anti-freeze protein, is described here. In this article, we provide a synthesis of theoretical and experimental studies whilst extending ideas into new territory as we address the question of habitability. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Premelting of ice

Deliquescence

Brines

Antifreeze proteins

Extremophiles

Planetary habitability

WATER-VEIN SYSTEM

ANTIFREEZE PROTEINS

SEA-ICE

MICROBIOTIC CRUSTS

MARS

FORCES

GROWTH

MICROORGANISMS

STABILITY

MECHANISM

Astronomy & Astrophysics

ATES OF AMERICA

V108

P3653

Premelting of ice

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