TBA

Brown dwarfs are high-quality testing grounds for atmospheric models and optimizing requirements for exoplanet-focused instrumentation. Brown dwarfs have similar atmospheric physics and chemistry to gas giant exoplanets, but are much easier to observe because they do not suffer from host star obscuration. I will discuss the importance of mid-infrared wavelengths and needed development to understanding planetary atmospheres in the JWST and the ELT-era.  First, I will share the results of a JWST program studying WISE 0855 (280K), the coldest known brown dwarf and the best analog for studying processes that also occur on gas giant planets within our Solar System. We present high SNR (80 – 100), medium resolution (R ∼1000), time-series JWST/NIRSpec spectra of WISE 0855. Our observations span 11 hours with 15-minute pointings covering 2.87–5.27 microns. The dominant time-variable feature is carbon monoxide (CO) gas absorption, producing modulations in its band strength with peak-to-peak amplitudes of 8%. We discuss the changes in CO in the context of other expected disequilibrium species such as phosphine and carbon dioxide. Using atmospheric and structural models, we find that the changes in CO and temperature must originate from distinct surface features and water clouds on WISE 0855. Second, I will share development for a third generation instrument for the Large Binocular Telescope.

TBA

TBA

Characterizing molecular mechanisms of marine carbon transformations is vital for predicting future changes to the marine carbon cycle. One-carbon molecules (e.g., methane, methanol, formate, carbon monoxide) are increasingly recognized as key energy and carbon sources for marine microbes. In this talk, I will highlight recent findings about the importance of nontraditional bio-essential trace elements, particularly tungsten and light rare earth elements, for metalloenzymes that catalyze microbial one-carbon metabolisms in the ocean. Alphaproteobacteria involved in one-carbon transformations in surface seawater may provide insights about the bacterial ancestor of mitochondria. They may also possess novel proteins for sensing, scavenging, and storing critical elements at picomolar concentrations in seawater that may be relevant for biotechnology.

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA