Building Blocks Of Life
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Toxic Gas May Have Sparked Life on Earth Through Icy ‘Cobweb’ Crystals
Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology suggest that frozen hydrogen cyanide may have helped trigger the chemistry that led to life on Earth. Their simulations show HCN forming cobweb-like ice crystals whose reactive surfaces enable unusual chemical reactions even in extreme cold. These processes could generate amino acids, nucl...
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New Experiments Suggest RNA Could Have Formed Naturally, Supporting ‘RNA World’ Origin of Life Theory
Experiments show RNA, a crucial molecule for life, could form naturally on early Earth with borates stabilising ribose and aiding phosphate production. Protoplanet impacts may have delivered RNA ingredients, supporting the RNA world hypothesis and suggesting life’s building blocks could emerge efficiently on Earth and potentially Mars.
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Saturn’s Moon Titan Breaks One of Chemistry’s Oldest Rules, NASA Study Reveals
Saturn’s moon Titan has shocked scientists by breaking a key chemistry rule. NASA and Chalmers University researchers found that polar and nonpolar molecules, usually immiscible, can mix under Titan’s extreme cold. The discovery deepens our understanding of prebiotic chemistry and could reveal how life’s building blocks form in frigid extrate...
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Alien Environment On Saturn's Biggest Moon May Support Building Blocks Of Life, Study Suggests
The research could open up new directions in the search for life beyond Earth.
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Crystalline Ice Discovered in Space: New Study Reveals Hidden Order in Cosmic Ice
A groundbreaking study from University College London and the University of Cambridge reveals that water ice in space, long believed to be completely amorphous due to extreme cold, may actually contain up to 25% crystalline structure. Simulations and X-ray diffraction experiments confirm the presence of nanocrystals in so-called low-density amorpho...
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James Webb Telescope Detects Methanol and Ethanol Near Young Stars, Hinting at Life’s Origins
NASA’s James Webb Telescope has identified ethanol and methanol isotopes around protostars and HD 100453. These discoveries offer valuable clues about the cosmic origins of life, indicating that comets filled with organic molecules might have seeded early Earth.
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Bennu Asteroid Sample Reveals Organic Compounds That May Hint at Life Beyond Earth
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has delivered a sample from asteroid Bennu, revealing amino acids, nucleobases, ammonia, and minerals formed in saltwater. These organic compounds, vital to life, suggest that the building blocks for life might have existed in other regions of the early solar system. The discovery of evaporite minerals, including halite ...
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Life's 'Basic Building Blocks' Found In Asteroid Samples
The findings suggest Bennu's parent was once home to pockets of liquid water. When these evaporated, they left behind a "briny broth" of salts and minerals.
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Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
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In Search For Extra-Terrestrial Life, Scientists Find A Clue For Building Blocks
Researchers University of Cambridge studied comets, saying they delivered organic material to exoplanets.
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Toxic Gas May Have Sparked Life on Earth Through Icy ‘Cobweb’ Crystals
Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology suggest that frozen hydrogen cyanide may have helped trigger the chemistry that led to life on Earth. Their simulations show HCN forming cobweb-like ice crystals whose reactive surfaces enable unusual chemical reactions even in extreme cold. These processes could generate amino acids, nucl...
-
New Experiments Suggest RNA Could Have Formed Naturally, Supporting ‘RNA World’ Origin of Life Theory
Experiments show RNA, a crucial molecule for life, could form naturally on early Earth with borates stabilising ribose and aiding phosphate production. Protoplanet impacts may have delivered RNA ingredients, supporting the RNA world hypothesis and suggesting life’s building blocks could emerge efficiently on Earth and potentially Mars.
-
Saturn’s Moon Titan Breaks One of Chemistry’s Oldest Rules, NASA Study Reveals
Saturn’s moon Titan has shocked scientists by breaking a key chemistry rule. NASA and Chalmers University researchers found that polar and nonpolar molecules, usually immiscible, can mix under Titan’s extreme cold. The discovery deepens our understanding of prebiotic chemistry and could reveal how life’s building blocks form in frigid extrate...
-
Alien Environment On Saturn's Biggest Moon May Support Building Blocks Of Life, Study Suggests
The research could open up new directions in the search for life beyond Earth.
-
Crystalline Ice Discovered in Space: New Study Reveals Hidden Order in Cosmic Ice
A groundbreaking study from University College London and the University of Cambridge reveals that water ice in space, long believed to be completely amorphous due to extreme cold, may actually contain up to 25% crystalline structure. Simulations and X-ray diffraction experiments confirm the presence of nanocrystals in so-called low-density amorpho...
-
James Webb Telescope Detects Methanol and Ethanol Near Young Stars, Hinting at Life’s Origins
NASA’s James Webb Telescope has identified ethanol and methanol isotopes around protostars and HD 100453. These discoveries offer valuable clues about the cosmic origins of life, indicating that comets filled with organic molecules might have seeded early Earth.
-
Bennu Asteroid Sample Reveals Organic Compounds That May Hint at Life Beyond Earth
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has delivered a sample from asteroid Bennu, revealing amino acids, nucleobases, ammonia, and minerals formed in saltwater. These organic compounds, vital to life, suggest that the building blocks for life might have existed in other regions of the early solar system. The discovery of evaporite minerals, including halite ...
-
Life's 'Basic Building Blocks' Found In Asteroid Samples
The findings suggest Bennu's parent was once home to pockets of liquid water. When these evaporated, they left behind a "briny broth" of salts and minerals.
-
Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
-
In Search For Extra-Terrestrial Life, Scientists Find A Clue For Building Blocks
Researchers University of Cambridge studied comets, saying they delivered organic material to exoplanets.
