Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago, but very soon the seeds of new life appeared on the planet: the first organic molecules are recognized presence on Earth about 2.5 billion years ago. In theory, it is believed that life did not originate from our own planet from ice particles in the comet or asteroid. When these objects fall to Earth, the organic component and water contained in them to progress to simple living organisms such as mold. However, people still do not understand the process of how out of place. New research by scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA-JPL in California (United States) have deciphered the mysteries that they artificially created the conditions required as it has been held previously to transform a popular organic compounds in that period in the form of money the first life.
According to the team, the early progression of organic matter takes place in the coldest regions of the universe. They have tried to use the equipment available to carry out this process. Organic compounds that are selected in the experiment known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (a macromolecular aromatic hydrocarbon-PAH). This is a common organic molecules exist on Earth today, and is the product of combustion, such as human barbecue, light candles or burning waste fuel in the chamber of the engine. But billions of years ago we have been on the distant comets or asteroids. Evidence is NASA's Spitzer space telescope has discovered PAH molecules in the ring twisted disk around the star, or in the space between the stars and galaxies far away from Earth.
For the same conditions the harsh environment in space is very cold in space, the team has created ultra-low temperature of 5 degrees Kelvin, or minus 268 degrees C (to be converted from degrees Kelvin to C, we add it to 273) in the laboratory. They then use the UV beam to bombard the PAH molecules. Selected beam at the same wavelength as the wavelength of the radiation emitted from the stars in the universe. When the ultraviolet radiation coming in, the PAH molecules will be altered and chemical reaction with other inorganic substances. Product of the reaction is determined by the laser system (laser) MALDI range from the infrared to the ultraviolet.
The analysis then only, the PAH molecules have been completely transformed: they combine with molecular hydrogen (the most common element in the universe) in the reaction. In the process the old periodic structure is broken and the aromatic ring disappeared. Reaction products obtained are complex organic molecules much more. As explained, PAH has a very stable structure and relatively chemically inert. Therefore, the observed change it even in ultra low temperature conditions as in the experiments are surprising. Process that gave birth to the new organic compounds that then it can be transformed into the basic amino acid composition of the protein material and DNA carries genetic information in living organisms.
The experiment also help explain why the PAH molecules are rarely found in the ice particles in the universe, while the other common organic molecules in clouds of hot gas and dust. Reaction process and the changes that have significantly reduced their density. And now we can only detect the presence of PAH in galaxies or distant stars.
But recent experiments at NASA explain why the form of money life could arise from the piece of ice, and when they fall to Earth and created the first simple creatures, but there is still a big question other: whether such a process takes place somewhere in the solar system or a planet somewhere in the universe. This is still the problem of scientific interest for many years and they are still on the search for life outside the Earth.
Source: NASA
