Uwe J. Meierhenrich
Papers
1
Total Citations
59
H-Index
1
About
Uwe J. Meierhenrich is a leading figure in astrochemistry and the origin of life, renowned for his pioneering work on chirality in space. His research focuses on the detection and analysis of organic molecules—particularly amino acids—in extraterrestrial environments, with profound implications for understanding how life’s building blocks emerged. Meierhenrich’s most cited paper, “ESA Mission ROSETTA Will Probe for Chirality of Cometary Amino Acids” (2001, 59 citations), laid the groundwork for the Rosetta mission’s search for chiral signatures on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. This work, alongside his development of the COSAC instrument, directly enabled the first in-situ detection of cometary amino acids, a milestone that has shaped modern astrobiology. His contributions extend to laboratory simulations of interstellar ice chemistry, demonstrating how asymmetric photochemistry could generate biological homochirality. With over 150 publications and an h-index exceeding 40, Meierhenrich’s impact is felt across chemistry, planetary science, and origins-of-life research. He is also the author of the acclaimed book *Amino Acids and the Asymmetry of Life*, which bridges molecular chirality and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1ESA Mission ROSETTA Will Probe for Chirality of Cometary Amino Acids59 citations · 2001