Science

Eugene

(61,937 posts) Fri Apr 8, 2016, 10:17 AM Apr 2016

Complex sugars cooked up from 'comet ice'

Source: BBC

Complex sugars cooked up from 'comet ice'

By Jonathan Webb
Science reporter, BBC News

8 April 2016 Science & Environment

Scientists have detected ribose - a sugar needed to make RNA and DNA - in laboratory experiments which simulate the very early Solar System.

They shone UV light on a simple, frozen mixture of chemicals mimicking the ices that form in space, between stars.

As it condensed and then warmed up, the ice produced "substantial quantities" of ribose, alongside other molecules.

Published in Science, the research is the first to show that sugars can be produced in such a simple way.

It suggests that these critical molecules could form when similar ices condense around dust grains and comets in the vicinity of a young star.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35991312

Related: Ribose and related sugars from ultraviolet irradiation of interstellar ice analogs (Science)

4 replies

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Complex sugars cooked up from 'comet ice' (Original Post) Eugene Apr 2016 OP

Interesting...... Bayard Apr 2016 #1

Thanks for the link... Wounded Bear Apr 2016 #2

I fail to understand the fascination with forming organic molecules in comets ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2016 #3

i am sure some see it differently SoLeftIAmRight Apr 2016 #4

Bayard

(22,121 posts)

1. Interesting......

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Fri Apr 8, 2016, 11:31 AM

Apr 2016

Life, The Universe, and Everything.

Wounded Bear

(58,685 posts)

2. Thanks for the link...

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Fri Apr 8, 2016, 03:42 PM

Apr 2016

I have posted it forward to my other site.

eppur_se_muova

(36,280 posts)

3. I fail to understand the fascination with forming organic molecules in comets ...

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Fri Apr 8, 2016, 04:04 PM

Apr 2016

Pre-biotic synthesis on a planetary surface has so many advantages -- in terms of concentration, scale, liquid water, and a range of temperatures -- if comets did absolutely nothing but deliver CHON to the surface they would have done quite enough for the emergence of life. Any more complex chemicals in comets and meteors would be present in such pitifully low concentrations that they simply wouldn't matter beside the huge amounts which could be formed on the surface, and mostly wouldn't survive the high temperatures of atmospheric entry and/or impact. Much ado about nothing, in short.

SoLeftIAmRight

(4,883 posts)

4. i am sure some see it differently

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #3)

Sat Apr 9, 2016, 09:48 PM

Apr 2016

be well

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