Origins of the Earth, Moon, and Life

Chapter 1. Origin of Elements

• 1.1. Origin of Protons (Hydrogen Atoms)
• 1.2. Types of Radioactive Decays
• 1.3. Three Forces Sustain a Star in a Fine Balance
• 1.4. Element Synthesis in Stars
• 1.5. Element Syntheses in Other Processes
• 1.6. Type Ia Supernova
• 1.7. The Oldest Galaxy Ever Found
• 1.8. The Oldest Star Found So Far
• 1.9. Element Syntheses by a Short-Duration γ-Ray Burst

Chapter 2. Formation of the Proto-Earth in the Solar Nebula

• 2.1. Evolution of Molecular Clouds to the Solar Nebula
• 2.2. From the Presolar Nebula to the Solar System
• 2.3. Age Dating by Radioactive Isotopes
• 2.4. Model Age
• 2.5. Extinct Nuclides
• 2.6. The ¹⁸²Hf–¹⁸²W Isotope System
• 2.7. Mass Spectrometry
• 2.8. Formation of Gas Giant Planets and Asteroids: The Nice Model
• 2.9. The Late Heavy Bombardment in the Nice Model
• 2.10. The Grand Tack Model: The Resonance of Jupiter and Saturn
• 2.11. Formation of Inner Planets in the Grand Tack Model
• 2.12. Inconsistency Between Our Solar System and Exosolar Systems Found by the Kepler Program
• 2.13. Observation of Planets and Asteroid Belts

Chapter 3. The Giant Impact Made the Present Earth–Moon System

• 3.1. Introduction
• 3.2. History of a Giant Impact Model
• 3.3. Apollo Program: Landing on the Moon and Sampling Moon Rocks
• 3.4. Similarity Between Chemical Compositions of the Moon and Earth’s Mantle
• 3.5. Constraints From High Field Strength Element
• 3.6. Mass Fractionation of Oxygen Isotopic Ratio of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O
• 3.7. Mass Fractionation of Three Oxygen Isotope Ratios
• 3.8. Constraints From Stable Isotope Ratios for the Origin of the Present Earth and Moon
• 3.9. Astrophysical Models for the Giant Impact

Chapter 4. What Is the Late Veneer, and Why Is It Necessary?

• 4.1. Introduction
• 4.2. Constraints From Highly Siderophile Elements and Platinum Group Elements
• 4.3. Constraints for the Late Veneer From W Isotopes
• 4.4. Constraints on the Late Veneer From Oxygen Isotope Ratios
• 4.5. Statistics

Chapter 5. The Age of the Moon

• 5.1. Introduction
• 5.2. Age of FANs
• 5.3. Zircon Ages
• 5.4. Age of KREEP Rocks
• 5.5. Age of Mg-Suite Rocks
• 5.6. Age of the Moon Mantle Differentiation by the ¹⁴⁶Sm-¹⁴²Nd Method
• 5.7. Implication of the Lunar Age

Chapter 6. Age of the Earth From Geological Records Remaining on the Earth Surface

• 6.1. Introduction
• 6.2. Core Formation Age From Hf–W Systematics
• 6.3. U–Pb Age of the Earth
• 6.4. Age of the Earth’s Atmosphere From I–Pu–Xe Systematics
• 6.5. Application of ¹⁴²Nd Isotope Systematics to the Oldest Crusts on Earth
• 6.6. Oldest Zircon on Earth
• 6.7. First Water on the Early Earth From Oxygen Isotopic Data of Zircon by HR-SIMS

Chapter 7. Life on Mars From the Martian Meteorite?

• 7.1. Introduction
• 7.2. Fundamental Knowledge of Astrobiology
• 7.3. Report for the Discovery of Life in the Martian Meteorite ALH84001
• 7.4. Detailed Explanation in the Report of McKay et al. (1996)
• 7.5. Life in the Martian Meteorite Was a Big Mistake!

Chapter 8. The Hadean and Archaean Atmosphere and the Oldest Records of Life as Micro- or Chemofossils

• 8.1. Introduction
• 8.2. The Perspective of Atmospheric Evolution From the Hadean to the Archean Earth
• 8.3. Transportation of Materials on the Archaean Earth by Late Heavy Bombardment
• 8.4. Is the Apex Chert, From the Pilbara Area, Western Australia, the Oldest Microfossils?
• 8.5. Carbon Isotopic Fractionation
• 8.6. The Evidence of Life Older Than 3800Ma at the Isua Supracrustal Belt and Akilia Island, West Greenland
• 8.7. ¹³C-Depleted Carbon Microparticles in >3700Ma Sea-Floor Sedimentary Rocks From West Greenland
• 8.8. Questioning the Evidence for the Earth’s Oldest Fossils in Apex Cherts
• 8.9. Objection to the Earliest Life on Akilia Island
• 8.10. Back to the Isua Supracrustal Belt (ISB), Western Greenland
• 8.11. Geological Evidence of Recycling of Altered Crust in the Hadean Eon
• 8.12. Origin of Life Back to 4.1Billion Years Ago

Chapter 9. How Did Initial Life-Related Molecules Appear on Earth?

• 9.1. Introduction
• 9.2. Classic Experiments
• 9.3. Cosmic Origin of CHOs and CHONs
• 9.4. Introduction to Impact-Shock Experiments for Syntheses of CHOs and CHONs
• 9.5. Syntheses of CHOs by UV Irradiation on Interstellar Ices
• 9.6. The Experiment Where the Icy Comet Hits Another Icy Comet in Space
• 9.7. The Icy Planet and Icy Planet/Archean Earth Collisions
• 9.8. The Ice Planet That Fell on Earth’s Ocean
• 9.9. Summary for the Formation of CHOs and CHONs
• 9.10. Selection of CHO and CHON Enantiomers
• 9.11. Discovery of Chiral Molecule in Space

Chapter 10. From Life-Related Molecules to Life

• 10.1. Introduction
• 10.2. Characterization of Present Life
• 10.3. The Schematic Structure of the Eukaryote Cell
• 10.4. The Protocell
• 10.5. A Reproduction Model of the Protocell
• 10.6. Hypothetical Evolution Steps of Life
• 10.7. Assembly of Nucleic Acids Without Enzyme
• 10.8. The Cytoplasm of the Protocell
• 10.9. The Cell Cycle
• 10.10. Road From Protocell to Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota

Chapter 11. Possibility of Life on Other Planetary Bodies in Our Solar System

• 11.1. Introduction
• 11.2. Mars
• 11.3. The Dawn Mission for Asteroids 4 Vesta and 1 Ceres
• 11.4. Four Contrasting Moons of Jupiter
• 11.5. Moons of Saturn
• 11.6. Pluto and Charon

Chapter 12. Conclusions