It is a special type of sulfur molecule called methylmercaptano simple debet (CH2DSH). He was detected in a young star similar to the sun. He can help explain the formation of life on earth. Science analyzed the molecule that explains life.
Sulfur is essential for all life forms. It constitutes a fundamental component of proteins and amino acids. Dr. Hayley Bunn and her colleagues from the Max Planck Institute of Extraterrestrial Physics managed to create a “fingerprint” of the aforementioned molecule. They investigated how it is stirred and revolved in response to the light of ultrabrillant synchrotron.
Origin of life
Now, other investigators of the international team are using this footprint or signature. They use it to look for more similar molecules in the distant space. This could allow them to rebuild how the molecules of life on Earth formed thousands of millions of years ago. The work is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
«We are trying to understand how far we can go, chemically, with this. We want to obtain larger biological molecules and what environments are needed for their formation, ”says Bunn in a statement. «Ultimately, it would be interesting to answer someday how this is transmitted to the planets. And, hopefully, to life ».
The CLS syncrotron was fundamental for the success of Bunn’s investigation. And it is that the vibrational signals of this basic molecule are extremely difficult to detect. The syncrotron light is much brighter than conventional sources, which allows even the most dim signals to identify.
Complexities
«There are very few syncrotrons in the world – positively – that perform this high resolution process that we need. One of them is CLS, ”says Bunn. It also offers researchers remote access for this type of work, with specialized support, simplifying research.
The molecule that explains life is still studied. Bunn and his collaborators were surprised by the complexity of the characteristic vibrational and rotational pattern of the molecule. While its study provides clear and useful information to identify it in space, there are still questions about underlying chemistry.
