The chemistry that built life on Earth may have begun in deep space, according to a new study. The discovery could help to unravel one of science's central questions: what are the origins of life's molecular building blocks?
Astronomers have detected simple organic molecules drifting through interstellar clouds and preserved in meteorites and comets, indicating that biologically important compounds can form in space and be delivered to planetary surfaces. However, one crucial step has remained unresolved: how amino acids could link together under the harsh conditions of space to form short molecular chains called peptides.
