# Comets May Not Have Seeded Earth's Life

> New simulations show comets rarely delivered life-seeding chemicals to Earth.
- Title: Comets May Not Have Seeded Earth's Life · ScienceAlert
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: comet, hydrogen cyanide, prebiotic chemistry, earth, scientific reports, comet impact, space, science, Comets, May, Seeded, Earth's
- Source: ScienceAlert — https://sciencealert.com/scientists-ran-100000-simulations-of-comets-striking-earth-the-results-are-a-surprise
- Author: Peter Dockrill
- Published: 2026-10-29T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: comet, hydrogen cyanide, prebiotic chemistry, earth, scientific reports, comet impact, space, science
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Comet impacts likely didn't seed Earth's life due to low hydrogen cyanide delivery rates.