From ScienceAlert · Peter Dockrill · · 50s
Comets May Not Have Seeded Earth's Life
New simulations show comets rarely delivered life-seeding chemicals to Earth.
In brief
New simulations show comets rarely delivered life-seeding chemicals to Earth. Comet impacts likely didn't seed Earth's life due to low hydrogen cyanide delivery rates. Originally reported by ScienceAlert.
Comet Impact Theory
Scientists proposed life on Earth came from space via comets.
Hydrogen Cyanide in Comets
Hydrogen cyanide, a key prebiotic molecule, is found in comets.
Simulations Run
Researchers ran 100,000 simulations of comet impacts on early Earth.
Delivery Failure Rates
54% of simulations showed no hydrogen cyanide delivery to Earth's land.
Mars as Better Fit
Mars has a better chance of successful comet deliveries than Earth.
One-in-a-Million Chance
Successful delivery requires a one-in-a-million occurrence of conditions.
What to remember
Comet impacts likely didn't seed Earth's life due to low hydrogen cyanide delivery rates.
