A team from the American space agency, NASA, who observed the Leonid meteor shower from Israel in November, discovered in them evidence that may provide clues about the origin of life, and about the possibility of the development of life on other planets.
A team from the American space agency, NASA, who observed the Leonid meteor shower from Israel in November, discovered in them evidence that may provide clues about the origin of life, and about the possibility of the development of life on other planets.
The researchers discovered that the Leonids contain organic molecules, which probably merged in the past in the Earth's atmosphere and were used as the building blocks for the development of life. The discovery reinforces the findings of previous studies, which also discovered organic molecules in meteors, comets and asteroids. The team from NASA arrived at Tel Aviv University this week, along with scientists from other research centers around the world, to report the results of the observation of the Leonids.
Although so far no conclusive evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life has been discovered, many researchers believe that the universe is teeming with life. Dr. Peter Janiskens, who headed the new study, says that just as comets, meteors and other celestial bodies brought organic molecules (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and more) to Earth, which served as the basis for the development of life - so they also reach other planets and create in them the foundations for the development of life.
{Appeared in Haaretz newspaper, 21/4/2000}
by Tamara Traubman
