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Key Component of Earth Life Found in Comet

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 18, 2009 2:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – An amino acid necessary to the construction of proteins, and therefore life on Earth, has been found in a comet that passes through our solar system, Space.com reports. Glycine was found in samples picked up by a NASA spacecraft in 2004. The discovery suggests that life’s building blocks could have been “delivered to Earth long ago by meteorite and comet impacts,” a researcher says.

[Images (2)]

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Comet Lulin streaks across the early morning sky. (AP Photo)

The new discovery leads some to believe that we are not alone in the universe. (AP Photo)

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The discovery of glycine in a comet supports the idea that the fundamental building blocks of life are prevalent in space, and strengthens the argument that life in the universe may be common rather than rare.
- Carl Pilcher, NASA Astrobiology Institute

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 23 comments

The_Pinkston

Aug 19, 2009 5:21 AM CDT

Ok...watch the Matrix much?

SalParadise

Aug 19, 2009 4:58 AM CDT

I know it's been observed and largely theorized before, but to find further evidence of a shaky scientific theory is always a neat find.

wwwonderer

Aug 19, 2009 3:20 AM CDT

Well said. My thing is this, many religions should be able to agree that God(s) is Love. I believe in the power of love. I also believe in the power of gravity. I don't need to depict gravity as a white (or black, yellow, red, green, argyle) male humanoid -or any physical form- in order for me to respect, appreciate and obey the rules of gravity. Because if I don't follow the rules, I have probably will increase my chances of suffering. The golden rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you/treat people like you want to be treated) predates Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Really simple.

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Science

NASA • life • comet • Stardust • spacecraft • amino acids • glycine • panspermia

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