Lack of phosphorus hints at the instability of extraterrestrial life

Lack of phosphorus hints at the instability of extraterrestrial life

Scientists from the University of Cardiff believe that there may be a space deficiency in the chemical element necessary for life. They searched for phosphorus in the Universe, since this element is associated with life on Earth. If it is not in other parts of the cosmos, then there may be difficulty with the emergence of extraterrestrial life.

Phosphorus is one of the 6 chemical elements on which terrestrial organisms depend, and it plays an important role in the combination of adenosine triphosphate, which cells use to store and transfer energy. Researchers have just begun to pay attention to the cosmic sources of phosphorus and have revealed several surprises. For example, it is formed in supernovae, but the number does not coincide with computer models.

The researchers used the Herschel telescope (Canary Islands) to track the infrared light from phosphorus and iron in the Crab Nebula — a supernova remnant distant from us by 6,500 light years.

Lack of phosphorus hints at the instability of extraterrestrial life

Compound IR (red), visible (green) and UV (violet) image of the Crab Nebula This is the second study on the study of phosphorus. The first was carried out on supernova Cassiope A, so one could compare two stellar explosions and understand what proportions of phosphorus and iron they emit. The first element supports life, and the second is part of the main part of the core of our planet.

Received only the first part of the data. But she points out that the Crab Nebula is much less phosphorus than Cassiopeia A. Perhaps the second case is the result of the explosion of a rare supermassive star.

Preliminary results suggest that material thrown into space may vary greatly in chemical composition. It turns out that the route for the transfer of phosphorus to newborn planets looks extremely dangerous. Perhaps the phosphoric elements that came in the meteorites could be reactive enough to create protobiomolecules.

The researchers plan to continue the search to establish whether there is a lack of phosphorus in other supernovae.

Comments (0)
Search