The question of where life on Earth came from now has a more probable answer.
UK scientists have recently revealed that the Winchcombe meteorite that struck the UK in 2021 not only contains water but also amino acids that potentially led to the creation of life on Earth.
The winchcombe meterorite is one of the most pristine meteorite samples on Earth, enough to rival the ones taken directly from their source in space.
Winchcombe Meteorite Amino Acids Discovery
The winchcombe meteorite is becoming one of the key elements that may answer the question how life began on Earth. In November 2022, scientists discovered that the meteorite contained water that was a near-perfect match for that on Earth, per the BBC.
In fact, 11% of the Winchcombe meteorite's weight came from the water it contained.
With this discovery, experts became more confident that celestial objects like meteors and meteorites, brought the chemical components needed, which also included water, for Earth to become what it is now.
Now, scientists found a new reason to believe that meteors and meteorites were the ones that brought the building blocks of life on Earth as we know it.
Queenie Chan from the University of London's Royal Holloway mentioned that the meteorite itself contains organic compounds, including amino acids, the same molecules that form protains, giving them the nickname "the building blocks of life," per Space.com.
Chan also revealed that some of the amino acids that the meteorite hosted within itself are the precursors of to the proteins that make up DNA and are vital to life on Earth.
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As such, Chan believes that studying the Winchcombe meteorite will provide scientists with a window into the past, during the early days of the Solar System.
the meteorite not only made a name for itself but it also redefined meteorites forever. Chan and her colleagues think that the Winchcombe meteroite belongs in an entirely new category. Although the meteorite is a rare carbon rich chrondritic meteorite, its organic matter sets it apart from its kind. Additionally, due to its prompt recovery, no terrestrial contamination occured, meaning that the organic matter found in the meteorite is still as pure as when the asteroid it came fromw as hurling through space, per Phys.com.
Could Meteorites Be Responsible For Life On Earth?
The possibility of life being brought to Earth by meteors and meteorites is a plausible theory with the findings Chan discovered from the Winchcombe meteorite.
In fact, earlier studies by Dr Helena Bates and the scientists at McMaster University believe that the key cheminal elements needed to jumpstart life on earth came from meteorites. According to Bates, many common elements that couldn't be present on Earth during its early days, such as water and other organic molecules were brought into the planet through meteorites.
However, scientists are still figuring out where or how these amino acids came from or even formed while in the vaccum of space, per PhD student Carlotte Bays. nevertheless, she agrees that meteorites could have provided the push life needed to start onour home planet.
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