What molecules of the origin of life have scientists found? Their number is tens of times higher than that previously assumed in the constructed models.
An international team of astrophysicists has discovered reserves of large organic molecules in the protoplanetary disks of the Milky Way. In their opinion, this may prove that the emergence of life on Earth is not a unique phenomenon.
Modern science believes that life on Earth originated more than 3.5 billion years ago as a result of chemical reactions. The simplest molecules formed organic substances, from which amino acids and biochemical compounds appeared, which make up the basis of life. Another hypothesis (panspermia) says that life was brought to our planet in a ready-made form – for example, by meteorites. True, this leaves open the question of how it originated in another place in the Universe.
A group of researchers from 16 universities in different countries using the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) radio telescope complex tracked organic molecules in the protoplanetary disks of five stars. Signs of the origin of planets have already been found there. The protoplanetary disks around young stars are composed of dense gas. Not only planets are then formed from it, but also comets with asteroids.
During observations in four out of five disks, it was possible to detect organic molecules of compounds such as hydrocyanic acid, ethynyl radical and formaldehyde. At the same time, it turned out that they are unevenly distributed. According to scientists, this explains why life can then arise on some planets, but not on others.
In addition, the researchers were able to recognize three much larger organic molecules. These are molecules of cyanoacetylene, acetonitrile and cyclopropenylidene. They were present in three out of five disks, and their number was 10-100 times higher than that previously assumed in the models built by scientists. Three of these chemical compounds under certain conditions can become “building blocks” for the basis of life – sugars, amino acids and even RNA components.
Thus, experts emphasize, the chemical conditions that led to the emergence of life on Earth can be widespread in our Galaxy. This increases the likelihood of the presence of life on other celestial bodies.
