Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

This special issue highlights the latest scientific findings in the issues and key words of “Earth, Isotopes and Organics.” The Earth harbors the diverse elements that make up organic molecules with Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), and Phosphorus (P). Major inorganic elements represented by magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) also have important roles for biosphere. Those diverse elements have also stable and radioactive isotopes in their natural compositions. Standardization through international standard references is underway to develop highly accurate and precise analytical methodology. These highly precise isotope measurements are robust chemical tools in deciphering the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors. Therefore, this special issue can be defined as the understanding of the life science and chemistry on the Earth (e.g., biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere) through the representation of essential elements associated with inorganic and organic molecules in nature. In this special issues, further perspectives for state-of-the-art developments in compound-specific isotope analysis will be overviewed for next decadal progresses.

Edited by: Yoshinori Takano, Yoshito Chikaraishi, Thomas Blattmann, Mark Lever, Kensei Kobayashi, Yusuke Okazaki