An element essential to life discovered on one of Saturn’s moons, raising hopes of finding alien microbes

https://theconversation.com/an-element-essential-to-life-discovered-on-one-of-saturns-moons-raising-hopes-of-finding-alien-microbes-207456

#astronomy #lifeorigin #ExtraterrestialLife #enceladus #chemistry #saturn

Tracing the origin of life

A new discovery provides insights into the origin of life

Summary:A team of scientists has discovered a new abiotic pathway for the formation of peptide chains from amino acids -- a key chemical step in the origin of life. The current study provides strong evidence that this crucial step for the emergence of life can indeed occur even in the very inhospitable conditions of space.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230210115508.htm

#lifeorigin #evolution #aminoacids #peptides

Scientists study life origins by simulating a cosmic evolution

Amino acids make up millions of proteins that drive the chemical gears of life, including essential bodily functions in animals.... After all, amino acids may have helped spawn life on Earth after being delivered here about 4 billion years ago by pieces of asteroids or comets.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230111104321.htm

#lifeorigin #evolution #aminoacids #asteroids #comets

Origins of the building blocks of life

Date:January 11, 2023Source:Southwest Research InstituteSummary:A new study posits that interstellar cloud conditions may have played a significant role on the presence of key building blocks of life in the solar system.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230111104321.htm

#evolution #lifeorigin