Comets and Prebiotic Organic Molecules on Early Earth

Chyba, Christopher F.; Hand, K. P.

doi:10.1007/3-540-33088-7_6

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Dynamical considerations and experimental results thus support the possibility of organic carbon delivery via large impacts-both in its pristine form and evolved in the impact to longer polymers. The flux of organic matter to the Earth via comets and asteroids, averaged over the period of heavy bombardment prior to 3.8 Ga (10 9 yr), may have been as high as 10 11 kg yr −1 (calculated from data in Chyba et al (1997); see also table 6). This estimate is larger than the value of 5 × 10 8−10 kg yr −1 , the best estimate of the terrestrial contribution during that time, assuming that the atmosphere was moderately oxidising (Chyba and Sagan 1997).…”

Section: Relevance To the Prebiotic Inventory Of The Earthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The flux of organic matter to the Earth via comets and asteroids, averaged over the period of heavy bombardment prior to 3.8 Ga (10 9 yr), may have been as high as 10 11 kg yr −1 (calculated from data in Chyba et al (1997); see also table 6). This estimate is larger than the value of 5 × 10 8−10 kg yr −1 , the best estimate of the terrestrial contribution during that time, assuming that the atmosphere was moderately oxidising (Chyba and Sagan 1997). As an example, consider the contribution of HCN.…”

Section: Relevance To the Prebiotic Inventory Of The Earthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Astrophysical and astrochemical insights into the origin of life

et al. 2002

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Stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements such as carbon allowed the formation of organic molecules in space, which appear to be widespread in our Galaxy. The physical and chemical conditions-including density, temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and energetic particles-determine reaction pathways and the complexity of organic molecules in different space environments. Dense interstellar clouds are the birth sites of stars of all masses and their planetary systems. During the protostellar collapse, interstellar organic molecules in gaseous and solid phases are integrated into protostellar disks from which planets and smaller solar 0034-4885/02/101427+61$90.00

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Section: Relevance To the Prebiotic Inventory Of The Earthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relevance To the Prebiotic Inventory Of The Earthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrophysical and astrochemical insights into the origin of life

et al. 2002

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Extraterrestrial Impacts Creating Architectures for Life

et al. 2023

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Three-dimensional complex architectures observed in shock processed amino acid mixtures

et al. 2022

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Asteroid and cometary impacts have been considered one of the possible routes for exogenous delivery of organics to the early Earth. It is well established that amino acids can be synthesized due to impact-driven shock processes of simple molecules and that amino acids can survive the extreme conditions of impact events. In the present study, we simulate impact-induced shock conditions utilizing a shock tube that can maintain a reflected shock temperature of about 5500 K for 2 ms time scale. We have performed shock processing of various combinations of amino acids with subsequent morphological and structural analysis carried out using SEM, revealing that the shock processed amino acids demonstrate an extensive range of complex structures. These results provide evidence for the further evolution of amino acids in impact-induced shock environments leading towards the formation of complex structures and thus providing a pathway for the origin of life.

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Comets and Prebiotic Organic Molecules on Early Earth

Cited by 5 publications

References 135 publications

Astrophysical and astrochemical insights into the origin of life

Astrophysical and astrochemical insights into the origin of life

Extraterrestrial Impacts Creating Architectures for Life

Three-dimensional complex architectures observed in shock processed amino acid mixtures

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