Life on Earth Generated From Icy Comet Or Meteorites Collisions, Researchers Confirm

Life on Earth Generated From Icy Comet Or Meteorites Collisions, Researchers Confirm (Photo : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory )

 Researchers of a new study confirmed that life on Earth came from outer space. They believe that a collision between icy comets or meteorites may have created amino acids which are also called "building blocks of life."

Scientists have been perplexed for a very long time about the origin of life on Earth. Previous studies have suggested many theories that claim life on earth came from outer space. A study conducted August, provided evidence that life on Earth came from Mars. 

The latest study conducted by researchers from Imperial College in London and University of Kent confirmed that life indeed came from outer space. Scientists found that life on Earth spawned from a collision between icy comets or meteorites, which led to the production of amino acids, commonly known as the "building blocks of life."

An earlier study suggested that life-producing phosphorus came from asteroids 3.5 billion years ago. This could have kick-started early life on Earth.

In 2010 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientist, Nir Goldman first predicted that life on Earth came from outer space through the production of amino acids. Amino acids are critical to life and are the building blocks of proteins. According to Goldman, the simple molecules found in comets could have supplied the raw material and the impact with early Earth could have created ample supply of energy to initiate the production of these amino acids.

For the new study, the scientists conducted a similar experiment where they fired a projectile into a comet-ice mixture using a light gas gun. This resulted in the formation of different types of amino acids.

"These results confirm our earlier predictions of impact synthesis of prebiotic material, where the impact itself can yield life-building compounds," Goldman said in a press release. "Our work provides a realistic additional synthetic production pathway for the components of proteins in our solar system, expanding the inventory of locations where life could potentially originate."

Comets are known to harbor simple ice and organic precursors of amino acids. Glycine - the simplest amino acid - was recently confirmed to be present in comet Wild-2. The team found that icy bodies with the same compounds created from a comet's impact may also be found in outer space.

    Source: hngn.com