Knoll Group
The Knoll Group investigates the boundary between biology and chemistry, where life and minerals meet. We study how living organisms form minerals and how, under the right conditions, minerals can self-organize into life-like structures without biology at all. Our research bridges physical chemistry, microbiology, and planetary science to uncover the fundamental rules that govern mineral growth, structure, and preservation.
By integrating experiments, imaging, and modeling, we aim to distinguish biological from abiotic mineralization. This remains an essential step toward recognizing biosignatures in ancient rocks and on other worlds, from Earth’s deep past to Mars and icy moons.
Current projects explore:
- Microbial biomineralization and its role in adapting to environmental stress.
- Abiotic self-organization in chemical systems that mimic biological morphology.
- Comparative mineralization frameworks across biotic, biologically influenced, and abiotic systems.
- Extremophile mineralization under extreme pH, temperature, and pressure conditions.
Our interdisciplinary work combines laboratory experiments, field studies in Iceland and Spain, and computational modeling to advance both astrobiology and environmental science.
Based at the UK Centre for Astrobiology and the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions at the University of Edinburgh, the Knoll Group is building a foundation for the next generation of biomineralization and planetary habitability research.
People
