John Baross

About

John Baross is an Emeritus Professor in Oceanography and a member of the Astrobiology Program at the University of Washington. His research specializes in the ecology, physiology, and taxonomy of microorganisms from hydrothermal vent environments. He employs biochemical and molecular methods to detect, quantify, and classify microorganisms, with particular interests in microbial ecology of extreme environments, biotechnological applications of microorganisms that grow in such environments, and the significance of submarine hydrothermal vent environments for the origin and evolution of life. His work includes a focus on the novel environments and microbes present at Lost City hydrothermal vents, which offer potential for new discoveries and insights into life in extreme environments. Baross's research contributes to understanding the microbial ecology of extreme environments and the role of hydrothermal vents in the origin and evolution of life, with implications for astrobiology.

Research topics

• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Astrobiology
• Biology
• Engineering ethics
• Aerospace engineering
• Geochemistry
• Oceanography
• Geology
• Earth science

Selected publications

• The pH of Enceladus’ ocean

  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · 2015-04-17 · 272 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Diversity of magmatism, hydrothermal processes and microbial interactions at mid-ocean ridges

  Nature Reviews Earth & Environment · 2022 · 87 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Planetary Protection and Mars Special Regions—A Suggestion for Updating the Definition

  Astrobiology · 2016-02-01 · 41 citations

  articleOpen access

  We highlight the role of COSPAR and the scientific community in defining and updating the framework of planetary protection. Specifically, we focus on Mars "Special Regions," areas where strict planetary protection measures have to be applied before a spacecraft can explore them, given the existence of environmental conditions that may be conducive to terrestrial microbial growth. We outline the history of the concept of Special Regions and inform on recent developments regarding the COSPAR poli…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Ribofilm as a Concept for Life’s Origins

  Cell · 2015-07-01 · 29 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Resurrecting ancestral genes in bacteria to interpret ancient biosignatures

  Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences · 2017-11-13 · 28 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Two datasets, the geologic record and the genetic content of extant organisms, provide complementary insights into the history of how key molecular components have shaped or driven global environmental and macroevolutionary trends. Changes in global physico-chemical modes over time are thought to be a consistent feature of this relationship between Earth and life, as life is thought to have been optimizing protein functions for the entirety of its approximately 3.8 billion years of history on th…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Marvin D. Lilley

  University of Washington

  66 shared

• Deborah S. Kelley

  57 shared

• William J. Brazelton

  University of Utah

  51 shared

• D. A. Butterfield

  University of Washington

  43 shared

• Matthew O. Schrenk

  Michigan State University

  43 shared

• Gretchen L. Früh‐Green

  ETH Zurich

  40 shared

• Alexander S. Bradley

  37 shared

• D. Yoerger

  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

  37 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Astronomy

  University of California, Los Angeles

  1981

• M.S., Astronomy

  University of California, Los Angeles

  1976

• B.S., Physics

  University of California, Los Angeles

  1974

Similar researchers at University of Washington

• Roger Buickh-90
• Eric Agolh-88
• Cecilia Bitzh-74