The impact of comets crashing into Earth's surface may have provided the energy to create simple molecules that formed the precursors to life.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry publish a study that was based on a computer model of an impact's effect on a comet crystal initially made up of water, carbon dioxide and other molecules.
''Comets carry very simple molecules in them," said study co-author Nir Goldman, a physical chemist at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California. "When a comet hits a planetary surface, for example, that impact can drive the synthesis of more complicated things that are prebiotic — they're life-building."
Maybe comets did spark life on earth. What do you think? Leave a comment!
The Journal of Physical Chemistry publish a study that was based on a computer model of an impact's effect on a comet crystal initially made up of water, carbon dioxide and other molecules.
''Comets carry very simple molecules in them," said study co-author Nir Goldman, a physical chemist at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California. "When a comet hits a planetary surface, for example, that impact can drive the synthesis of more complicated things that are prebiotic — they're life-building."
Maybe comets did spark life on earth. What do you think? Leave a comment!
Ghose, Tia. "Did Comet Impacts Spur Life on Earth?" livescience.com. N.p., 7
June 2013. Web. 6 Sept. 2013.
June 2013. Web. 6 Sept. 2013.
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