Cosmic dust probably played a key role in the origin of life on Earth

As NASA’s Terra satellite image clearly shows, planet Earth is mostly covered in water. Recent studies suggest that cosmic dust may have played a key role in the origin of life on Earth. This finding has challenged the common theories about the origin of life.

According to the scientific news department of Tekna Technology Media, the origin of life on earth has been a fundamental question for scientists. Many theories attribute the origin of life to complex chemical processes during which simple organic molecules gradually turned into more complex structures and finally into living organisms. However, closer examination has shown that the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust are very poor in life-giving elements such as phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon. In fact, living organisms are in fierce competition for these limited elements for their survival.

According to a popular theory, life-giving elements have entered it from outside the earth. But how these elements reach the surface of the earth without being destroyed by the impact with the earth’s atmosphere, is still an unanswered question. In a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists have investigated the role of cosmic dust in the origin of life. Cosmic dust is very small particles that are produced in space due to collisions of asteroids or evaporation of comets.

The researchers of this study believe that unlike large celestial bodies, a steady stream of cosmic dust is moving towards Earth. Also, a significant part of these small particles pass through the earth’s atmosphere and reach its surface without being seriously damaged. Therefore, cosmic dust can carry significant amounts of life-generating elements that are necessary for the initiation of chemical processes leading to the emergence of life.

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