Scientists discovered hemolithin, the first extraterrestrial protein, inside a meteorite from space.
Key Takeaways:
- Researchers have detected a protein in a meteorite, marking the first extraterrestrial protein ever found.
- The protein, called hemolithin, was discovered in the Acfer 086 meteorite, which landed in Algeria in 1990.
- High deuterium/hydrogen ratios in the protein confirm its formation in space, likely before our solar system existed.
- Hemolithin may have played a role in splitting water, a key process for life’s development on Earth.
- Scientists stress the need for further research to confirm the discovery and explore its implications for life beyond Earth.
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In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have reported the detection of the first protein ever found in a meteorite, a finding that could reshape our understanding of how life originated in the universe. The protein, named hemolithin, was discovered inside the Acfer 086 meteorite, a space rock that landed in Algeria in 1990. This research, recently published on the preprint archive arXiv, suggests that complex organic molecules may have existed in space long before the formation of our solar system.
First Protein Found in Space
For decades, scientists have found amino acids—basic building blocks of proteins—inside meteorites. However, the detection of a full protein is unprecedented. The research was led by molecular biologist Julie McGeoch of Harvard University, whose team spent years analyzing meteorite samples using advanced mass spectrometry techniques provided by the company Bruker. Their work identified hemolithin, a previously unknown protein, inside the Acfer 086 meteorite.
To confirm its extraterrestrial origin, the team analyzed the deuterium/hydrogen (D/H) ratio in hemolithin. The extremely high D/H ratio indicates that the protein was formed in the interstellar molecular clouds that predate our solar system, possibly in the proto-solar disc. This discovery suggests that complex organic molecules could have been present in space long before planets like Earth existed.
Implications for Life Beyond Earth
Hemolithin’s structure raises intriguing possibilities. Scientists speculate that the protein may have played a role in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, a crucial process for energy production and the development of life on Earth. If confirmed, this could mean that similar processes occurred elsewhere in the universe, potentially supporting extraterrestrial life.
Despite the excitement, McGeoch and her team emphasize the need for further research. Their findings have been submitted to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for peer review, and other researchers must verify the results using independent methods. The team also plans to investigate hemolithin’s crystal structure and potential biochemical properties.
This discovery, if validated, could provide critical insights into how life’s essential ingredients formed in space and how they may have arrived on Earth. It also raises new questions about the potential for life in other star systems, making it one of the most significant developments in astrobiology in recent years.
