10 papers
Assembly Spaces: Formal Definitions and Fast Methods for Approximating Assembly Indices
Gage Siebert, Redwan Chowdhury, Louie Slocombe +1
Assembly theory is an experimental and theoretical framework that introduces a metrological approach to detecting life, with potential applications across diverse substrates. Its t…
Deep-time consistency in proteome elemental composition across cellular and viral life
L. Felipe Benites, Louie Slocombe, Sara I. Walker
Proteins are constructed from a limited alphabet of ~20 amino acids, yet the origins and selection of this specific alphabet are unresolved. One largely overlooked aspect is whethe…
Elemental Stoichiometry as an Ecological Biosignature with Applications to Life Detection
Pilar C. Vergeli, Cole Mathis, John F. Malloy +5
The vast chemical space of possible small molecules, estimated at 10^60 compounds for molecules composed of just C, N, O, and S, is only sparsely occupied by biology. We propose th…
The Physics of Causation
Leroy Cronin, Sara I. Walker
Assembly theory (AT) introduces causation as a material property and establishes a metrology for objects produced by evolution and selection. The physical scale of causation is qua…
Searching for Life-As-We-Don't-Know-It: Mission-relevant Application of Assembly Theory for Exoplanet Life Detection
Sara Walker, Estelle Janin, Evgenya Shkolnik +2
This white paper introduces a framework for applying Assembly Theory (AT) to planetary atmospheres as a biosignature framework suitable for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).…
A Firefly-inspired Model for Deciphering the Alien
Cameron Brooks, Estelle Janin, Gage Siebert +3
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI) is, historically, a search for aliens like us, inspired by human centric ideas of intelligence and technology. However, humans ar…