University of Washington graduate student and VPL collaborator Owen Lehmer, was the lead author of a new paper recently published in Science Advances. The research estimates atmospheric carbon dioxide levels 2.7 billion years ago from oxidation induced in micrometeorites as they fell through the atmosphere from space!
Owen’s work on this projected was conducted as part of the Research Rotation requirement for the Dual-Title PhD in the UW Astrobiology Program.
Co-authors on the paper include VPL Co-Investigator David Catling, Roger Buick and UW Astrobiology professor Don Brownlee.
Owen’s work has also been featured in a recent UW News article, which you can read here!