An interesting scientific theory regarding the origins of life on Earth involves asteroid and asteroid fragment impacts. The theory is that meteorites containing polyhydroxylated sugar compounds impacted Earth acting as “energy sources for all organisms.” In support of this theory, NASA’s Ames Research Center claims to have found polyhydroxylated compounds in two meteorites. Further complicating the issue is the Russian Academy of Sciences claim regarding the discovery of fossils of extraterrestrial organisms in several 1969 meteorites that crashed in Murchison, Australia.
As the Muchison meteorites had been lying around on farmland for years, they very well may be thoroughly infested with terrestrial bacteria. When taking this into consideration, the Murchison extraterrestrial organism claims are inconclusive – at best. This, of course, doesn’t invalidate the claims, but it does cast more than a small amount of doubt on such claims. In addition, the question of the formation of sugar compounds in open space remains highly controversial.
Further clouding the issue is the planetary exchange of meterorites ejected from planets during large impacts with asteroids. Should we one day discover evidence of life in Martian rocks and soil, we will have consider the possibility of such life originating on Earth or another source in the Solar System.
Clearly, more study of freshly impacted meterorites will be necessary to shed light on the subject. It is an intriguing theory and one that will be with us long-term in our quest to discover our biological origins and provide an answer to our questions regarding life on other worlds. As Geddy Lee sang, “I am made from the dust of the stars, and the oceans flow in my veins…”
For more information:
- Life is Sweet: Sugar-Packing Asteroids May Have Seeded Life on Earth
- Fossilized Bacteria Found in Ancient Meteorite
This entry also posted in the American Military University Introduction to Astronomy newsgroup.