Scientists have uncovered the role of cosmic dust in the formation of the early Earth

Interstellar dust may be not just cosmic "debris", but a key carrier of amino acids, the building blocks of life. A study by Diamond Light Source scientists shows that cosmic dust particles could have survived the harsh conditions of space and delivered glycine and alanine to the early Earth, supporting the emergence of biological processes. This was reported in the journal Science X.

Scientists have been investigating how amino acids, including glycine and alanine, could survive in space and attach themselves to cosmic dust particles. The team synthesized particles of amorphous magnesium silicate, the main component of cosmic dust, and applied amino acids to them. Using infrared spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, the researchers assessed how the molecules behave when heated, simulating conditions in the Solar System.

The results showed that glycine and alanine successfully anchored to silicates, forming crystalline structures, and, in the case of alanine, remained stable even at temperatures above the melting point. The behavior of the mirror forms of alanine (L- and D-forms) differed: L-alanine showed greater reactivity, while glycine exfoliated from the silicate surface at relatively low temperatures.

The researchers also showed that small differences in the surface of the dust particles affected which amino acids were retained, which may indicate an "astrominerological selection mechanism" — a natural filter that determines which molecules reach the planet.

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Cosmic dust enriched with organic matter probably played a key role in the supply of amino acids to Earth between 4.4 and 3.4 billion years ago, supplementing the small amounts of organic matter synthesized on the planet itself. Micrometeorites from Antarctica and comet samples confirm the presence of organic matter, including amino acids, on space objects.

Thus, interstellar dust not only transports molecules, but also potentially chooses which organic compounds will survive and reach the planets. The research combines astronomy, chemistry and geology, revealing new horizons for understanding the origin of life on Earth and the possibility of its origin in other parts of the universe.

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Astronomy magazine reported on September 15 that NASA presented an article about the Perseverance find, an unusual Cheyava Falls rock in the Jezero crater on Mars, which was discovered in 2024. It was noted that the stone contains organic molecules and minerals that are usually associated with the activity of microorganisms on Earth. Acting head of NASA Sean Duffy stressed that this find may be the clearest sign of life that has ever been discovered on the Red Planet.

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