Building block of life found on comet

[babsbunny]

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE57H02I20090818?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:37am EDT

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The amino acid glycine, a fundamental building block of proteins, has been found in a comet for the first time, bolstering the theory that raw ingredients of life arrived on Earth from outer space, scientists said on Monday.

Microscopic traces of glycine were discovered in a sample of particles retrieved from the tail of comet Wild 2 by the NASA spacecraft Stardust deep in the solar system some 242 million miles (390 million km) from Earth, in January 2004.

Samples of gas and dust collected on a small dish lined with a super-fluffy material called aerogel were returned to Earth two years later in a canister that detached from the spacecraft and landed by parachute in the Utah desert.

Comets like Wild 2, named for astronomer Paul Wild (pronounced Vild), are believed to contain well-preserved grains of material dating from the dawn of the solar system billions of years ago, and thus clues to the formation of the sun and planets.

[Joanne98]

1. We are stardust we are golden............

Joni Mitchell was right!

[parasim]

2. As was Moby with We Are All Made of Stars

At least that's what my kids would tell me, I'm more a Joni fan myself.

[glinda]

8. Joni is right about a lot. One of my heros.

[TokenQueer]

3. Very cool! This thread needs a soundtrack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd-dB6qUTGI&feature=related

[parasim]

4. Nice...

:-)

[TexasObserver]

5. Recommend

[SmileyRose]

6. Quick

someone get that astronomer that goes on Colbert all the time and bolt him to the floor. **I** have a thrill thinking about this bit of amazement. I can't imagine how excited those guys are.

[TokenQueer]

7. Kick.

:kick:

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. I remember the 67 mercury comet having the building blocks of life

AFTER ONE NIGHT in High School
http://image.automotive.com/f/featuredvehicles/9159946+pheader/mufp_0604_01z+1967_Mercury_Comet+Front_View.jpg


humor aside
I knew comets did have the seeds of life
and now scientists have the proof. Kool news

[muffin1]

10. k&r

[NightWatcher]

11. ...you dont say.....

[nc4bo]

12. You mean we weren't created on the 6th day? Just wow.

Seriously - I love reading about these discoveries.