Department of Physics and Astronomy

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Rachel Smith, professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, is the co-author of a new peer-reviewed article published in the Astrobiology special issue, “Early Earth Environments and the Origins of Life.” The paper, “Setting the Stage: The Early History of the Solar System,” examines the early development of our solar system from an astrobiological perspective, incorporating evidence from meteorites and astronomical observations.

The publication was co‑authored with researchers from Johns Hopkins University; the NASA Nexus for Exoplanet System Science Virtual Planetary Laboratory; the Space Telescope Science Institute; the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; the University of Arizona; the University of California Riverside; and the University of California Santa Cruz.

A pre-print of the article is available at arxiv.org/abs/2607.27543.

Smith, who joined App State in 2012, holds a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also serves as Head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Laboratory and Curator of Meteorites at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and as an adjunct instructor in UNC Chapel Hill’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Her research focuses on early solar system chemistry, planetary system formation, solar system evolution, and the origins of life. In 2025, Smith was honored with the 100 Scholars Award from App State's Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies in recognition of her exemplary research activity.

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About the Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Department of Physics and Astronomy’s curriculum has an applied nature that includes a core of fundamental physics courses and laboratory experiences. The department prepares graduates for a variety of scientific, teaching, or engineering professions, as well as future educational endeavors. Learn more about the Department of Physics and Astronomy

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