Comet Probes Show Origin of Life Evidence
8/15/2007 - Science Daily
Probes placed inside comets suggest life began in space, according to Welsh scientists. Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe and her colleagues explain that the findings show how the first organisms could have formed. The 2005 Deep Impact mission to Comet Tempel 1 discovered a mixture of organic and clay particles acted as a catalyst, converting simple organic molecules into more complex structures. The 2004 Stardust Mission to Comet Wild 2 found a range of complex hydrocarbon molecules, which are considered potential building blocks for life.