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Organic compounds discovered on Comet 67P: Does this change our understanding of the origin of life?
Recently, the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe and its affiliated Philae probe sent back shocking news, which not only had an impact on the astronomical community, but also triggered our new thinking about the origin of life. . The two probes successfully landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014 and discovered at least 16 organic compounds, four of which were identified for the first time on a comet, including acetamide, acetone, methyl Isocyanates and propionaldehyde.
The discovery not only enriches our understanding of comets, it may also shed new light on the origin of life.
Composition and structure of comets
In the past, the nucleus of a comet was considered to be a solid central part, which many scientists referred to as a "dirty snowball." The nuclear structure of 67P shows that it is composed of rock, dust and frozen gas. When heated by the Sun, the gas sublimates to form a coma, and due to the radiation pressure of the Sun and the solar wind, a huge tail is formed extending toward the Sun. Based on Rosetta data, 67P's density and composition suggest it may have a more complex interior than traditional models suggest.
The nucleus of 67P is not as simple as the dirty snowball that was previously known, but a structure filled with diverse substances.
The significance of organic compounds
The organic compounds discovered on 67P have triggered new thinking about the origin of life. Does the presence of these organic molecules mean that they had an origin in life in the biochemistry of early Earth or other planets? The latest research suggests that these compounds may have been introduced to Earth through comet impacts or other forms of stirring, which may explain why these complex organic molecules exist on Earth. The chemical changes in Comet 67P may also be a common phenomenon in the early solar system.
Scientists are re-evaluating the potential link between comets and the origin of life.
Challenges to existing theories
In the past, many scientific theories revolved around water and ice as the main components of comet nuclei. The traditional "dirty snowball" model holds that comet activity is primarily related to the escape of water and the melting of ice. But Rosetta's research suggests that comets' behavior and mechanisms are far more complex than expected, including the recondensation of up to 80% of their water vapor inside the nucleus.
This new view challenges past models, showing that the surface of a comet may be composed of a variety of organic and mineral substances, and their physical properties are also very different from what scientists have thought. The findings have important implications for our understanding of how early planets formed and the processes that could support life.
Moving comets may not only be "space rocks" from outer space, but also cradles of the chemistry of life.
Summary and future thinking
The discovery of organic compounds on Comet 67P has undoubtedly changed our understanding of comets and further suggests how life can arise in different interstellar environments. Further research on these compounds may reveal the important roles they play in crystal or molecular structure, and how these substances may have been brought to the early Earth and influenced the evolution of life.
In this case, can we find similar organic molecules in other areas of the universe, thus proving that life may be a common phenomenon in the universe?
