Scientists Discover Protein in a Meteorite

[G_j]

https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-discover-protein-meteorite

Extraterrestrial Origin

For the first time, scientists found a complete protein molecule in a meteorite — and they’re pretty sure it didn’t come from Earth.

After analyzing samples from the meteorite Acfer 086, a team of researchers from Harvard University and the biotech companies PLEX Corporation and Bruker Scientific found that the protein’s building blocks differed chemically from terrestrial protein. As they write in their research, which they shared on ArXiv] on Saturday, “this is the first report of a protein from any extra-terrestrial source.”

A protein is an organic molecule made up of building blocks called amino acids. It’s a high-energy fuel source and also makes up most of the machinery within biological cells. Scientists first found amino acids — or at least amino acid-like molecules — in space years ago, and other molecules important to biological life have also turned up.

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The paper — which has yet to go through academic review or be published in a scientific journal — bolsters the hypothesis that meteorite impacts could have contributed to the development of life on Earth. It’s possible that some of the molecules or compounds necessary for life to emerge and thrive were delivered through a bombardment of space rocks.

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[C_U_L8R]

1. Kubrick was right

[COLGATE4]

2. Or

the meterorite had a collision with some hapless alien on its way here. Time for CSI.

[cbdo2007]

3. I've been getting my protein from meteorites for years...just sprinkle some on my avacado

toast and I'm all set.

[Walleye]

4. 🥴

[Bayard]

5. REALLY Interesting

And makes perfect sense for life on Earth.

[HAB911]

6. Not saying it's aliens, but

[abqtommy]

7. But was the protein placed on the meteorite due to handling/investigatory contanimation?

asking for billions of friends...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Obviously, a chunk of ET's grill got away. What sauce was on it?