Researchers from the UK’s University of Kent, Imperial College London, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discovered a “cosmic factory” that produces amino acids – the building blocks of life – when a rocky meteorite impacts a planet with an ice-covered surface, or when an icy comet impacts a rocky planet, according to a September 16 news release. The research findings appear in the latest issue of the journal Nature Geoscience.
Colliding comets can produce amino acids, the building blocks of life (Reuters)
“This process demonstrates a very simple mechanism whereby we can go from a mix of simple molecules, such as water and carbon-dioxide ice, to a more complicated molecule, such as an amino acid,” said Dr Mark Price, co-author of the paper from the University of Kent. “This is the first step towards life. The next step is to work out how to go from an amino acid to even more complex molecules such as proteins.”
“Our work shows that the basic building blocks of life can be assembled anywhere in the Solar System and perhaps beyond,” added Dr. Zita Martins, co-author from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. “However, the catch is that these building blocks need the right conditions in order for life to flourish. Excitingly, our study widens the scope for where these important ingredients may be formed in the Solar System and adds another piece to the puzzle of how life on our planet took root.”
