British scientists at the University of Cambridge have determined that meteorites that fall to Earth contain enough zinc to support organic processes and life.
Oku.Az reports that the study was published in the scientific journal “Science Advances” (SciAdv).
The team used chemical signatures of zinc from asteroids to trace the origins of volatile elements on Earth.
Volatile elements are elements or compounds that vaporize at relatively low temperatures. These include the six most common substances found in both living organisms and water. The zinc found in meteorites has a special composition that can be used to determine the source of volatiles on our planet.
The team discovered that zinc came to Earth from different parts of the solar system. About half came from beyond Jupiter’s orbit, the rest from near space.
According to scientists, understanding these processes will help us search for life outside our system.
