Important nutrients for the first living organisms on Earth may have come from space, according to new research from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.
scientists discovered that certain sulfur-containing organic molecules, called alkylsulfonic acids, can form naturally in space without the presence of life and were delivered to Earth by comets and asteroids. Sulfur-containing organic molecules are essential for life on Earth as they are crucial for many biological processes, such as protein structure and function, enzyme activity, and cellular respiration to incorporate sulfur.
These organic molecules were created in laboratory simulations that mimic the conditions of interstellar ices found in space. The study also discusses how this discovery could help scientists detect these molecules on comets and asteroids, such as the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu, providing insights into the chemical processes that might contribute to the origins of life on Earth.
“Our discovery highlights the creativity and persistence of scientists in solving long-standing mysteries about life’s beginnings, inspiring curiosity and interest in scientific exploration and research,” said UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Professor Ralf I. Kaiser who is one of the study¡¯s authors. “Understanding this process can ignite imaginations about our place in the universe and the origins of life itself.”
“Life as we know it requires sulfur, and ancient water-soluble alkylsulfonic acids are a plausible way to incorporate sulfur into early organisms,” added Mason McAnally, a UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ chemistry PhD student and lead author.
The in May 2024.
Other authors on the paper include Ashanie Herath, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ chemistry PhD student; Andrew M. Turner, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ assistant director; and Jana Bocková and Cornelia Meinert from Université Côte d’Azur in France.
The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s .