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Related: About this forumSpace probe confirms chemicals of life in comet's halo
Space probe confirms chemicals of life in comet's halo
Frank Jordans, Associated Press
Updated 7:27 pm, Friday, May 27, 2016
In this March 27, 2016 photo released by the European Space Agency ESA Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its coma are backlit by the sun.
BERLIN (AP) Scientists have found further evidence supporting the theory that some of the building blocks for life may have come to Earth from outer space.
Using instruments aboard the European space probe Rosetta, researchers detected glycine and phosphorus in the dusty halo around a comet.
Glycine is an amino acid, one of the molecules needed to make proteins, while phosphorus is essential for DNA and cells.
Their presence in the coma enveloping comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko "supports the idea that comets delivered key molecules for prebiotic chemistry throughout the solar system and, in particular, to the early Earth," according to the study published online Friday by the journal Science Advances.
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/Space-probe-confirms-chemicals-of-life-in-comet-s-7949658.php
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)That's pretty context changing. It gives me a warm feeling. There must be neighbors out there somewhere.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Sorry, bad attempt at chemistry humor.
jpmonk91
(290 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)One down, 22 to go. (Amino acids)
R&K
complain jane
(4,302 posts)Thanks for posting this, cool article!