Scientists think cosmic ice is where prebiotic molecules — the building blocks of life — form. Here on Earth, researchers replicated particles of space ice and bombarded them with electrons and photons to simulate the conditions in dark, dense clouds found in deep space. They saw that hydrogen peroxide was released from water ice after electron bombardment, an experimental finding that could illuminate the role hydrogen peroxide plays in the chemical processes known to support life in the universe.
Read an ACS press release about this research: Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities
“Extraterrestrial synthesis of prebiotic molecules”
Presented at ACS Fall 2024 on Aug. 20, 2024
Presenter: Kennedy Barnes
Principal investigator: Christopher Arumainayagam, Ph.D.
Credits:
Written and edited by Vangie Koonce
Produced by Kerri Jansen and Andrew Sobey
Narrated by Allison Tau
Executive produced by Matthew Radcliff
Sarah Michaud contributed research for this video.
Special thanks to Jason Dworkin, Ph.D., for helpful scientific discussion.
Research videos from Christopher Arumainayagam, Ph.D., James Battat, Ph.D., Kennedy Barnes, Amber Celletti and William Hoffeditz
Additional video and images: Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: California Institute of Technology, MolView, NASA, Space Science Institute, Space Telescope Science Institute and Shutterstock
Music: “Magic in the Mist” by Flouw and “Observations” by From Now On from Epidemic Sound
Sound effects: Soundsnap
Transcript
Behind this door, scientists create space ice on Earth. Scientists think cosmic ice is where prebiotic molecules form — the building blocks of life. In this ultra-high vacuum chamber, researchers replicate particles of ice found in dark, dense clouds in deep space. They bombard them with electrons and photons to simulate the conditions in these clouds. Then, they analyzed the products of the reactions.
Researchers saw that water ice released hydrogen peroxide during electron bombardment. This experimental finding could help illuminate the role hydrogen peroxide plays in the chemical processes that support life in the universe. And it’s good timing, because NASA is soon heading to Europa to further study the chemistry occurring on its surface. This could also impact science back on Earth, by providing new insight into how electrons interact with water, which could lead to advances in areas of medicine like cancer treatment.
This research is being presented at ACS Fall 2024, a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
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