Scientists have discovered that radioactive isotopes produce amino acids inside carbonaceous chondrites
Meteorites are the remnants of the formation process of youngrocky inner planets of the solar system. They were formed by hot clouds of gas and dust billowing up near the star about 4.6 billion years ago. At that time, the planets were too close to the Sun to form oceans, and therefore could not harbor life. Therefore, scientists are scratching their heads about how the Earth turned into an oasis of life.
In previous studies, scientistsit was assumed that the water could have been «delivered» carbonaceous chondritic meteorites to Earth. The authors of the new work showed that the same meteorites brought the building blocks of life to the planet.
To check if this is possible,The researchers mixed ammonia, methanol and formaldehyde with water in quantities similar to those found inside meteorites. Then, scientists irradiated them with cobalt-60 gamma rays. They wanted to understand whether radioactive elements—sources of gamma rays, such as aluminum-26, inside meteorites—could generate heat. It is necessary for the synthesis of amino acids.
It turned out that gamma radiation is indeedcaused a surge in the synthesis of amino acids inside the solution. In addition, the researchers found that the proportions of amino acids produced in the laboratory matched those found in the Murchison meteorite. This 100 kg space rock landed in Australia in 1969.
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