Cosmic Dust May Have Brought Life’s Building Blocks to Earth
Scientists propose that cosmic dust, rather than large meteorites, may have delivered the essential amino acids that sparked life on Earth. Recent experiments show certain amino acids can survive space conditions when bonded to dust particles. This theory could reshape our understanding of life’s cosmic origins.
New research suggests that life on Earth may have originated from microscopic cosmic dust particles carrying essential organic compounds, challenging long-held theories about asteroids as the primary delivery method for life’s building blocks. According to a groundbreaking study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the sheer volume of dust reaching Earth annually makes it statistically more likely than meteorite impacts to have delivered the amino acids necessary for life’s emergence.
