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by RosanaAnaDana 1031 days ago
There is another option here, where organic precursors accumulate via some currently unexplored process.

Really any system capable of creating themrodynamic disequilibrium and a chemical gradient could be an option. An example of this might be the freeze and thaw cycle of large planetoids. Swing close to the planet, warm up enough, move away, cool enough. Just a basic cycle (I believe the surface images of Pluto support the existence of such cycles). If volatile ices can have just enough warth to create bonds, there are many many many more of these types of objects than well places 'goldilocks' planets. Give it enough time and one will knock out of orbit and smash into a planet that does have adequate conditions for the development of life. Just a bunch of precursor chemistry to life, but plenty of it.

I've tried to look into deep space volatile ice chemistry but haven't exactly found great resources. But it strikes me that if a simple extraplanetary mechanism for pre-life chemistry accumulation exists, well, then life is probably pretty much everywhere.

2 comments

We keep finding more and more complex biological precursors on extra planetary bodies.

The interstellar medium, pretty primordial, seems to be filled with phospholipids: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2101314118

We have found peptides on asteroids and in meteorites.

> precursor of phospholipids

Not quite the same thing. Actual abundant phosphorus compounds would be quite surprising. Probably the end of the phosphorus-problem resolution of the fermi paradox, for one thing. But medium-small organic molecules aren't that big a surprise anymore.

I know its just a typo and an easy one to make at that, regardless themrodynamic is my new favorite word! I’m chomping at the bit to use it in conversation along with telepathetic.

Sincerely, Thank you!

As long as we're talking about typos, you might be interested to know that it's really "champing at the bit," although chomping is commonly used as well. (Unless you were just having a bit of fun there, in which case, never mind.)

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/champ_at_the_bit