How phosphorus came in from the cold

Phosphorus, which is vital to life but somewhat rare, condensed inside asteroids in the outer Solar System before moving back towards the sun, where some of it ended up on Earth, according to new research.

Phosphorus is one of the six main elements that make up the human body, and is a necessary building block for other organisms. However, unlike hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and calcium, phosphorus is rare. It is even more scarce in the rest of the Solar System.

Astrobiologists are tracking phosphorus, hoping that it leads them to signs of other life.

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Credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA/Lynette Cook.

Phosphorus could have condensed into asteroids when the Solar System was forming. The asteroids would then have moved towards the inner planets, impacting them and de-positing the phosphorus.

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Credit: David A. Aguilar (CfA).

Meteorites containing phosphorus could have also brought the element, which is essential for life, to Earth.

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Paucity of phosphorus hints at precarious path for extraterrestrial life.

“Astronomers have just started to pay attention to the cosmic origins of phosphorus and found quite a few surprises. In particular, P is created in supernovae—the explosions of massive stars—but the amounts seen so far don't match our computer models.”

“Life needs more than water alone. Recent discoveries suggest that plate tectonics has played a critical role in nourishing life on Earth. The findings carry major consequences for the search for life elsewhere in the universe.”

Dragon wrote:Phosphorus could have condensed into asteroids when the Solar System was forming. The asteroids would then have moved towards the inner planets, impacting them and de-positing the phosphorus.

That's amazing.. asteroids space delivery for building blocks of life lol

Dragon wrote:“Life needs more than water alone. Recent discoveries suggest that plate tectonics has played a critical role in nourishing life on Earth. The findings carry major consequences for the search for life elsewhere in the universe.”

Wow, would never have thought about that either. Fascinating. We are lucky we have all we need... fresh clean water, medicines/anti biotics, foods and ability for growing, oxygen you name it. I think we sometimes overlook how lucky we are to have all we need just to survive. To be alive