New Molecule in Deep Space Could Solve Mystery of Life

[abu afak]

Something as small as left-handed and right-handed/Chiral molecules could help explain life.

New Molecule in Deep Space Could Solve Mystery of Life
6/14/2016 - WSJ
New Molecule in Deep Space Could Solve Mystery of Life
+ 2 min VID

Second source.
Royal Society of Chemistry:
First detection of chiral molecule in space | Chemistry World

First detection of chiral molecule in space
15 June 2016 - Matthew Gunther

Astronomers have found a chiral molecule in space for the first time. Although such left-handed or right-handed molecules have been detected on meteorites, the result offers a new line of enquiry into the origins of life on Earth.

Some organic molecules can exist in two seemingly identical forms that are mirror images of each other, but have different chemical properties – enantiomers. But biological molecules, such as sugars or amino acids, only exist in one chiral form on Earth. Many chemists are struggling to explain this disparity, with many believing the origins of homochirality can be found in space.

In an attempt to retrace life’s steps, Brett McGuire and colleagues at the California Institute of Technology and Harvard University, US, pointed the Parkes radio telescope, Australia, towards the centre of our solar system. The team found the chiral molecule propylene oxide in Sagittarius B2, a giant molecular cloud and star-forming region.

Although the measurement in of itself doesn’t explain homochirality, the team argue the sensitivity of such telescopes could pick up whether an enantiometric excess exists in space.
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[Old Rocks]

https://hazen.carnegiescience.edu/sites/default/files/180-ChiralFaces2004.pdf

1. Introduction Chiral crystalline surfaces provide effective environments for chiral molecular discrimination in both natural and industrial contexts [1]. Such surfaces have been cited for almost 70 years in reference to their possible role in the origins of biochemical homochirality [2-7]. In the past decade, furthermore, chiral crystal surfaces have rece ived attention for their potential applications in the chiral selection and purification of pharmaceuticals and other molecular products [8 -12]. Many recent studies have focused on the behavior of chiral surfaces of cubic close-packed (CCP) metals, including copper, silver, gold and platinum [13 -23]. Single crystals of these metals, which can be modified by cutting, polishing and annealing faces with high Miller indices, display surfaces with chiral “kink” sites, even though the three -dimensional CCP structure is intrinsically achiral. Theoretical studies of these metal surfaces have demonstrated the potential for significant differences in adsorption energies of D - versus L-molecules [14,21- 23], while experiments provide indirect evidence for chiral sele ctivity [13,15-19]. Considerably less attention has been focused on the wide variety of chiral oxide and silicate mineral surfaces, which are ubiquitous in Earth’s crust. Such surfaces provide the most abundant and accessible local chiral geochemical environments, and thus represent logical sites for the prebiotic chiral selection and organization of essential biomolecules. This chapter summarizes the geological occurrence, physical properties, crystal morphology and surface structures of some of the most common of these natural surfaces, including crystal faces of quartz (SiO2), alkali feldspar [(Na,K)AlSi3O8], clinopyroxene [(Ca,Mg,Fe)SiO3], and calcite (CaCO3). One or more of these minerals is present in most common rocks in Earth’s crust, as well as o n the Moon, Mars and other terrestrial bodies, so chiral crystal environments are correspondingly ubiquitous [24,25].

And right here on Earth, there are possible sources of the early creation of chirality in organic molecules.

 

[sealybobo]

https://hazen.carnegiescience.edu/sites/default/files/180-ChiralFaces2004.pdf

1. Introduction Chiral crystalline surfaces provide effective environments for chiral molecular discrimination in both natural and industrial contexts [1]. Such surfaces have been cited for almost 70 years in reference to their possible role in the origins of biochemical homochirality [2-7]. In the past decade, furthermore, chiral crystal surfaces have rece ived attention for their potential applications in the chiral selection and purification of pharmaceuticals and other molecular products [8 -12]. Many recent studies have focused on the behavior of chiral surfaces of cubic close-packed (CCP) metals, including copper, silver, gold and platinum [13 -23]. Single crystals of these metals, which can be modified by cutting, polishing and annealing faces with high Miller indices, display surfaces with chiral “kink” sites, even though the three -dimensional CCP structure is intrinsically achiral. Theoretical studies of these metal surfaces have demonstrated the potential for significant differences in adsorption energies of D - versus L-molecules [14,21- 23], while experiments provide indirect evidence for chiral sele ctivity [13,15-19]. Considerably less attention has been focused on the wide variety of chiral oxide and silicate mineral surfaces, which are ubiquitous in Earth’s crust. Such surfaces provide the most abundant and accessible local chiral geochemical environments, and thus represent logical sites for the prebiotic chiral selection and organization of essential biomolecules. This chapter summarizes the geological occurrence, physical properties, crystal morphology and surface structures of some of the most common of these natural surfaces, including crystal faces of quartz (SiO2), alkali feldspar [(Na,K)AlSi3O8], clinopyroxene [(Ca,Mg,Fe)SiO3], and calcite (CaCO3). One or more of these minerals is present in most common rocks in Earth’s crust, as well as o n the Moon, Mars and other terrestrial bodies, so chiral crystal environments are correspondingly ubiquitous [24,25].

And right here on Earth, there are possible sources of the early creation of chirality in organic molecules.

So life might be everywhere? I can't wait to learn that life existed on Mars 4 billion years ago. In the grand scheme of life on earth humans have only been around for 1 million years give or take. That's nothing. I'm sure unless we get off this rock we won't be the last. 1 billion years after humans are gone this will be the planet of tardigrades and cockroaches