New study challenges assumptions about the origins of organic compounds
A recent study published in the journal Science has provided new insights into the origins of organic compounds in space and potentially challenges long-held assumptions about where these crucial compounds come from.
Carbon, often referred to as “the bedrock of life,” is a key element in all known life forms. The unique ability of carbon to form complex molecules necessary for organic matter has led scientists to search for organic compounds when seeking signs of life beyond Earth.
The study, conducted by researchers analyzing samples collected by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 from both the Ryugu asteroid and Murchison meteorite, identified the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These organic compounds were found to have nuclei that could only have been formed in extremely cold temperatures, below 100 kelvin.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions that these compounds were formed in the hot regions close to stars, suggesting that they actually originated in the cold regions of space between stars.
Dr. Alex Holman, a co-author of the study from the WA-Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), highlighted the significance of the research, stating, “This research gives us valuable insights into how organic compounds form beyond Earth and where they come from in space. The use of high-tech methods and creative experiments has shown that select PAHs on asteroids can be formed in cold space.”
The findings have potentially profound implications for scientists who are invested in understanding the origins of life and the formation of organic compounds in space. The study provides a new perspective on the formation of these crucial compounds and opens up new avenues for further research in astrobiology.