Dr. Joel Hurowitz’s research on the PIXL Instrument to Search for Signs of Past Life on Mars

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Clara Tran

On April 30, Dr. Joel Hurowitz from the Department of Geosciences presented his collaborative research on the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry, or PIXL, which will be part of the scientific payload of the Mars 2020 rover mission. PIXL is a micro-focus X-ray fluorescence instrument used to detect chemical “biosignatures” in rocks to determine if there was microbial life along Mars’s previous flowing rivers. PIXL, importantly, will help provide a better understanding of the paleo-environmental conditions on Mars.

This intriguing lecture not only was well-attended but also ignited a rich discussion by students and faculty. Additionally, the lecture attracted Robert Emproto from University Communications to come to the presentation. He wrote a short story on the lecture that is featured in SBU News. Congratulations to Dr. Hurowitz!