Unexpected: these essential molecules for life prefer space over Earth

Early Earth was a crucible of organic and biomolecular elements, suggesting a scenario where life could have emerged from this "primordial soup." However, recent studies reveal that some of these vital components form more easily in space than on our planet.


Research published in Science Advances shows that peptides, crucial molecules for life, form more easily in space conditions than on Earth. These molecules could have been delivered by meteorites or comets, opening up the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the Universe.

Peptides, short chains of amino acids, play an essential role in the biochemical reactions necessary for sustaining life. They could also have been precursors to cell membranes, trapping functional molecules within structures similar to cells.

What this study reveals is crucial: under the icy conditions of space, specifically in the interstellar medium where carbon atoms bond with molecules like carbon monoxide and ammonia on dust grains, peptides can emerge.

Researchers simulated these reactions in the lab and observed that even though peptide formation is low, it is indeed present. When asteroids and comets warm up, this promotes the creation of peptides in liquids, naturally selecting reactions that generate even more complex organic molecules.

These findings suggest that the building blocks of life, such as amino acids and lipids, are not only present in space but might also be more prone to assembling into complex structures compared to Earth. Such reactions could have been common during the formation of our own Solar System.

The capability of peptides to accumulate in comets and their potential delivery to early Earth strengthens the idea that the first steps towards life on Earth might have been aided from outside. This information brings us closer to understanding the conditions necessary for the emergence of life, thereby increasing the chances of detecting extraterrestrial life forms.