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Amino acid precursor found 1/4 billion lightyears away

Martin
in Astronomy and Cosmology

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080204-galaxy-life.html

 

Methanimine was found in the Arp 220 galaxy by Arecibo.

 

"Methanimine can form the simplest amino acid, glycine, when it reacts with either hydrogen cyanide and then water, or formic acid."

 

The other reagents (HCN, water, formic acid) are comparatively plentiful.

IIRC there are some more too, I think one is related to Carbamide (urea).

 

it`s only Simple, but quite an important precursor/building block for many other organic materials.

 

it`s quite exciting news! ;)

absolutely facinating! way to go anthropic principle on a cosmological scale!

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