Online:
Visits:
Stories:
Profile image
By Alton Parrish (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views

Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

Organic Molecules Found on Comet, Key Elements in the Formation of Life on Earth

Sunday, August 2, 2015 9:02
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

(Before It's News)

Scientists at The Open University (OU) have published their first findings from Ptolemy, their gas analysis instrument on the Rosetta spacecraft’s lander Philae which landed on a comet last November. Analysis of the comet’s dust particles collected by Ptolemy has revealed the presence of organic compounds – key elements in the formation of life on Earth.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko 
B4INREMOTE-aHR0cDovLzIuYnAuYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tLy1yVmN5TkFIREFkNC9WYjQ2N2x0Q3NqSS9BQUFBQUFBQkpZSS9UMXAxY21HVzI1ay9zNjQwL0NvbWV0X29uXzI4X01hcmNoXzIwMTVfTmF2Q2FtX21vc2FpYy5qcGc=
Credit; ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM

Ptolemy sprang into action when Philae bounced off Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko last November. The lander kicked up a dust cloud which enabled Ptolemy – the gas analysis instrument on board, to sniff the particles on the surface. Ptolemy detected compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – all of which are key elements in the formation of water and simple sugars. The compounds detected are not biogenic in nature and therefore do not indicate signs of life. According to Ian Wright, OU Professor of Planetary Sciences and Principal Investigator on Ptolemy, the compounds found are elements that “will have gone into the mix that led to the formation of the life on Earth”.

Not only has Ptolemy’s first analysis given scientists insight into what comets are made of, it has also revealed more about what chemical reactions occur on the surface. Ptolemy investigator Dr Andrew Morse said: “We now know more about the surface of comet 67P that we ever did before. Findings such as the fact that its surface is soft and dusty, but beneath that is hard layer of ice, will play an important part to inform plans for future comet landings and space exploration.”

Last month Philae tweeted back to Earth that it was alive and well after its solar-powered batteries ran down due to lack of sunlight. Now that the lander is awake scientists at the OU, and across Europe, are hoping that it will be able to continue capturing data about the comet and transmitting it back to Earth. 

Professor Wright added: “We’re incredibly excited by these findings. As this was the first ever attempt to land on a comet to do science, we had very limited knowledge about what to expect. Ptolemy, like all of the instruments on board, was designed to be as flexible as possible to adapt to the hostile environment in space. The fact that it has managed to capture this data and transmit it back to us despite such a tumultuous landing is incredible.”

Contacts and sources:
The Open University (OU)

The paper ‘CHO-bearing organic compounds at the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed by Ptolemy’ was published in Science magazine. It was authored by the OU Ptolemy team which consists of Dan Andrews, Simeon Barber, Geraint Morgan, Andrew Morse and Simon Sheridan, and is led by Professor Ian Wright.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6247/aab0673.abstract



Source:

Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

Top Stories
Recent Stories

Register

Newsletter

Email this story
Email this story

If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.