Humankind has long sought to penetrate the mystery of how life came to exist on our planet.
But what if the only reason were here right now is because the universe cheats?
So the question is: how did amino acids end up on Earth?
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In other words: the researchers experimentally formed complex amino acids in a space-like environment.
This new research doesnt necessarily change that.
Its clear life thrives on our planet due to its unique amenities.
However, getting those building blocks to form in cold temperatures is no easy feat.
Then you have to leave the laws ofphysicsbehind to overcome whats essentially an insurmountable barrier.
The gist of the problem is that molecules have greater thermal energy at higher temperatures.
Thats why combustion engines work.
But out there in space?
Its cold and molecules are lazy.
They dont have enough energy to climb over the energy barrier.
for overcome this, the researchers simply relied on the universes natural penchant for cheating.
This is a wacky quantum process called tunneling.
But there is no hole, tunnel or any other jot down of opening involved.
Instead, we need to use the same currency the field of quantum mechanics deals in: probability.
When encountering a barrier, this wave doesnt end abruptly.
Instead, it continues inside and on the far side of the barrier, albeit with a smaller amplitude.
At later stages, such dust becomes the building blocks of comets or meteorites.
The formed organics could therefore have been delivered to the early Earth during the period of heavy bombardment.
Life, or at least its building blocks, might not be as rare as we once thought.
Unfortunately for us, however, it seems like planets that can support it are.
