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Young, R. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Young, R. S..

At least 19 records

Life sciences and space research XXIV(1) - Gravitational biology; Proceedings of Symposia 10 and 13 of the Topical Meeting of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Commission F (Meetings F1 and F2) of the COSPAR 28th Plenary Meeting, The Hague, Netherlands, June 25-July 6, 1990

Topics presented include an introduction to theories and models of biological response to gravity, gravity effects on biological systems, the function of calcium in plant graviperception, developmental biology on unmanned spacecraft, and the effect of microgravity on the development of plant protoplasts flown on Biocosmos 9. Also presented are the mechanism by which an asymmetric distribution of plant growth hormone is attained, the perception of gravity by plants, an animal research facility for Space Station Freedom, the long-term effects of microgravity and possible countermeasures, and an experimental system for determining the influence of microgravity on B lymphocyte activation and cell fusion.

Young, R. S.

Life sciences and space research XXI(2); Proceedings of the Seventh and Eleventh Workshops, Graz, Austria, June 25-July 7, 1984

Space-based and space-related research in the life sciences is presented in reviews and reports. Topics examined include the long-term effects of weightlessness, cosmic chemistry and chemical and biological evolution, life-support systems for space travel, planetary protection, and the g-scale factor in gravitational biology. Consideration is given to the role of Ca ions in cytological effects of hypogravity, the organic aerosols of Titan, the role of meteorite impacts in the formation of organic molecules, prebiotic synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, atmosphere behavior of gas-closed mouse-algal systems, air and water regeneration in advanced regenerative environmental-control and life-support systems, and the influence of gravity on the development of animal systems.

Oser, H.

Publications of the planetary biology program for 1978: A special bibliography

The planetary events which are responsible for, or related to, the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe are investigated. Bibliographies from chemical evolution, organic geochemistry, life detection, biological adaptation, bioinstrumentation, planetary environments, and origin of life studies are presented.

Pleasant, L. G.

Viking - The exploration of Mars

The Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft were launched in August and September, 1975 on a ten month journey to begin an in depth study of the nature, origin and evolution of Mars. Upon arrival at Mars, the previously selected Viking 1 landing site was found to be unsuitable and a new site was selected by means of cameras mounted on the Viking orbiter, which also revealed features suggesting a history of liquid water on the Martian surface. Once the new site in the Cryse basin was selected, the Viking 1 lander separated from the orbiter and landed on July 20, 1976, followed by the Viking 2 lander in August, 1976 at a site considerably to the north of the first site. At the two sites, scanning facsimile cameras allowed the panoramic imaging of the terrain and measurements were made of local atmospheric and soil compositions, temperatures, pressures, winds and seasonal changes. Soil analyzers have not detected the presence of organic materials at these sites, and although the results of the life detection experiments are ambiguous, the likelihood of life on Mars seems extremely remote.

Young, R. S.

Publications of the planetary biology program for 1976: A special bibliography

An annual listing of current publications resulting from research pursued under the auspices of NASA's Planetary Biology Program is presented. To stimulate the exchange of information and ideas among scientists working in the different areas of the program. To facilitate the exchange process. The author of each publication who is presently participating in the program is identified by asterisk. Current addresses for all principal investigators are given in the appendix.

Bradley, F. D.

Viking on Mars - A preliminary survey

Selection of landing site, observations of Martian topography from orbit, a log of entry into the Martian atmosphere and landing operations, and soil experiments executed at the landing site are recounted. Several photographs overviewing Martian terrain from orbit (1600 to 1900 km up) are shown. Soil sampling and analysis experiments and experiments designed to detect biotic activity (pyrolysis, labeled release of 14-carbon-tagged CO2, gas exchange and vapor chromatography, pyrolytic release) are described and some preliminary results reported. Results on surface geology and chemical composition of the Martian atmosphere are cited.

Young, R. S.

Publications of the planetary biology program for 1975: A special bibliography

The Planetary Biology Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the first and only integrated program to methodically investigate the planetary events which may have been responsible for, or related to, the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Research supported by this program is divided into the seven areas listed below: (1) chemical evolution, (2) organic geochemistry, (3) life detection, (4) biological adaptation, (5) bioinstrumentation, (6) planetary environments, and (7) origin of life. The arrangement of references in this bibliography follows the division of research described above. Articles are listed alphabetically by author under the research area with which they are most closely related. Only those publications which resulted from research supported by the Planetary Biology Program and which bear a 1975 publication date have been included. Abstracts and theses are not included because of the preliminary and abbreviated nature of the former and the frequent difficulty of obtaining the latter.

Souza, K. A.

Gravity and embryonic development

The relationship between the developing embryo (both plant and animal) and a gravitational field has long been contemplated. The difficulty in designing critical experiments on the surface of the earth because of its background of 1 g, has been an obstacle to a resolution of the problem. Biological responses to gravity (particularly in plants) are obvious in many cases; however, the influence of gravity as an environmental input to the developing embryo is not as obvious and has proven to be extremely difficult to define. In spite of this, over the years numerous attempts have been made using a variety of embryonic materials to come to grips with the role of gravity in development. Three research tools are available: the centrifuge, the clinostat, and the orbiting spacecraft. Experimental results are now available from all three sources. Some tenuous conclusions are drawn, and an attempt at a unifying theory of gravitational influence on embryonic development is made.

Young, R. S.

Biology on the outer planets

A brief review is given of information on the structure and composition of the outer planets and the organic reactions that may be occurring on them. The possibility of life arising or surviving in the atmospheres of these planets is considered, and the problem of contamination during future unmanned missions is assessed. Atmospheric models or available atmospheric data are reviewed for Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, the Galilean satellites, and Titan. The presence of biologically interesting gases on Jupiter and Saturn is discussed, requirements for life on Jupiter are summarized, and possible sources of biological energy are examined. Proposals are made for protecting these planets and satellites from biological contamination by spacecraftborne terrestrial organisms.

Young, R. S.

Oparin and the origin of life - Cosmological considerations

The question of the origin of life is examined on a cosmological scale from early observations made by Oparin. Even by a comparison of the amount of data presently available from telescopic and spacecraft observations Oparin's conclusions have been confirmed. The concept of panspermia is rejected and details of the role of carbon on earth are presented. Formation of C2, CN and CH is explained and various aspects of the atmospheres of planets are considered. Finally, the origin of amides, amines and other nitrogenous derivatives from hydrocarbons is discussed.

Young, R. S.

The beginning of comparative planetology

The study of the origin of life question is related to the comparative study of the planets in our solar systems and in fact the universe as a whole. Data relevant to the origin of life is being accumulated from the earth, planets, stars and interstellar space. A variety of spacecraft and earth based techniques are being used to provide this data.

Young, R. S.

Space exploration and the origin of life.

An important aspect of space exploration is connected with investigations regarding the existence of life on other celestial bodies. The most important objects to be studied for this purpose include the planets, the satellites of planets, meteorites, asteroids, and comets. The exploration of Mars, in particular, beginning with the telescope, fly-by and orbiting spacecraft, followed by landed laboratories, and perhaps culminating eventually in manned expeditions, may well provide a significant portion of the data we seek about the origin of life and introduce a new era of understanding of man's place in the universe.

Young, R. S.

Frog egg growth, experiment S003

The objective of experiment was to determine the effect of weightlessness on the ability of a fertilized frog egg to divide normally and to differentiate and form a normal embryo. This experiment was first attempted on the Gemini 8 mission and was completed only partially because of the early termination of that mission.

Young, R. S.

Sea urchin egg fertilization and development

The effects of subgravity (much less than unit gravity) on fertilization, cell division, differentiation, and growth of a relatively simple biological system (eggs of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata) were considered. The experiment was flown on Gemini 3 and recovered as scheduled. However, the experiment objectives were not achieved, primarily for mechanical reasons.

Young, R. S.

The planets and life

Investigating Surtsey and Iceland as natural laboratories for testing planetary life detection techniques

Young, R. S.