A scanning electron microscope image of silver-coated S. thermophilus bacteria (larger spheres) surrounded by pure silver microparticles.
Dust from Icy Moons
As described in further detail here, our LILBID mass spectrometry concentrates on samples that are, or could be, found in water-ice dominated particles ejected from icy moons such as Europa or Enceladus. Solutions, prepared as analogues of the icy material, containing salts to mimic subsurface ocean compositions, organics, and biological material can then be studied to predict the appearance of their impact ionisation mass spectra.
The biological components can include non-pathogenic bacteria such as S. thermophilus, S. alaskensis and B. subtilis, which we culture and grow in our biochemistry laboratory. Whole bacteria can then be used as templates for metallation and use in accelerator experiments, lysed for use in the LILBID mass spectrometer, or undergo extraction and purification so that e.g. proteins, fatty acids, amino acids and other cell components can be studied separately.