Janosch Schirmack

• PhD
• PostDoc Position at Technische Universität Berlin

Optical instrument to determine bioparticles in a fluid medium with the help of a smartphone

The existence of microbial activity hotspots in temperate regions of Earth is driven by soil heterogeneities, especially the temporal and spatial availability of nutrients. Here we investigate whether microbial activity hotspots also exist in lithic microhabitats in one of the most arid regions of the world, the Atacama Desert in Chile. While previ...

(1) Background: Future missions to potentially habitable places in the Solar System require biochemistry-independent methods for detecting potential alien life forms. The technology was not advanced enough for onboard machine analysis of microscopic observations to be performed in past missions, but recent increases in computational power make the...

The current understanding of the Martian surface indicates that briny environments at the near-surface are temporarily possible, e.g. in the case of the presumably deliquescence-driven Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL). However, whether such dynamic environments are habitable for terrestrial organisms remains poorly understood. This hypothesis was teste...

In order to evaluate the early Moon regarding its habitability, we conducted experiments in an Early Lunar Environmental Simulation Chamber.

Extraterrestrial environments encompass physicochemical conditions and habitats that are unknown on Earth, such as perchlorate-rich brines that can be at least temporarily stable on the martian surface. To better understand the potential for life in these cold briny environments, we determined the maximum salt concentrations suitable for growth (MS...

It is well known that dissolved salts can significantly lower the freezing point of water and thus extend habitability to subzero conditions. However, most investigations thus far have focused on sodium chloride as a solute. In this study, we report on the survivability of the bacterial strain Planococcus halocryophilus in sodium, magnesium, and ca...

Significance It has remained an unresolved question whether microorganisms recovered from the most arid environments on Earth are thriving under such extreme conditions or are just dead or dying vestiges of viable cells fortuitously deposited by atmospheric processes. Based on multiple lines of evidence, we show that indigenous microbial communitie...

The evolutionary adaptability of life to extreme environments is astounding given that all life on Earth is based on the same fundamental biochemistry. The range of some physicochemical parameters on Earth exceeds the ability of life to adapt, but stays within the limits of life for other parameters. Certain environmental conditions such as low wat...

We used Ar plasma-sterilization at a temperature below 80 °C to examine its effects on the viability of microorganisms when intermixed with tested soil. Due to a relatively low temperature, this method is not thought to affect the properties of a soil, particularly its organic component, to a significant degree. The method has previously been shown...

Methanogenic archaea have been studied as model organisms for possible life on Mars for several reasons: they can grow lithoautotrophically by using hydrogen and carbon dioxide as energy and carbon sources, respectively; they are anaerobes; and they evolved at a time when conditions on early Earth are believed to have looked similar to those of ear...

Assumed comparable environmental conditions of early Mars and early Earth in 3.7 Ga ago – at a time when first fossil records of life on Earth could be found – suggest the possibility of life emerging on both planets in parallel. As conditions changed, the hypothetical life on Mars either became extinct or was able to adapt and might still exist in...

On Earth, chemolithoautothrophic and anaerobic microorganisms such as methanogenic archaea are regarded as model organisms for possible subsurface life on Mars. For this reason, the methanogenic strain Methanosarcina soligelidi (formerly called Methanosarcina spec. SMA-21), isolated from permafrost-affected soil in northeast Siberia, has been teste...

A novel methanogenic archaeon, strain MC-15T, was isolated from a floating biofilm of Movile Cave (Mangalia, Romania) sulphurous subsurface lake. Cells were non-motile sarcina-like cocci with a diameter of 2-4 μm that occurred in aggregates. The strain was able to grow autotrophically on H2/CO2. Additionally, acetate, methanol, monomethylamine, dim...

A novel strain of methanogenic archaea, designated strain MC-20T, was isolated from the anoxic sediment of a subsurface lake in Movile Cave, Mangalia, Romania. Cells were non-motile, Gram-negative rods of 3.5-4.0 μm in length and 0.6-0.7 μm in width, and occurred either singly or in short chains. Strain MC-20T was able to utilize H2/CO2, formate, 2...

On Earth, chemolithoautothrophic and anaerobic microorganisms such as methanogenic archaea are regarded as model organisms for possible subsurface life on Mars. For this reason, the methanogenic strain Methanosarcina soligelidi (formerly called Methanosarcina spec. SMA-21), isolated from permafrost-affected soil in northeast Siberia, has been teste...

A methanogenic archaeon, strain SMA-21T, was isolated from a permafrost-affected soil by serial dilution in liquid medium. The cells were non-motile, stained Gram-negative and grew as irregular cocci with a diameter of 1.3-2.5 μm. Optimal growth was observed at 28°C, pH 7.8 and 0.02 M NaCl. The strain grew on H2/CO2, methanol and acetate, but not o...

Introduction Raman spectra will be measured with the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) onboard ExoMars in 2018 to identify organic compounds and mineral products as an indication of former or recent biological activi-ty. Investigation with the same specifications as those onboard the ExoMars mission is conducted to test the potential of identifying bi...