'Without Earth, Sun, or cells': Deep space may have baked the blueprint for life

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Cosmic Origins

Long before Earth formed, icy clouds in deep space brewed key molecules for life—far from any star.

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Frozen Alchemy

At near absolute zero, simple gases exposed to cosmic rays transformed into complex acids essential to metabolism.

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Stellar Starterkit

Researchers recreated star-forming conditions to show how life’s chemistry could begin in deep space.

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Prebiotic Package

Carboxylic acids like those in the Krebs cycle were formed—matching compounds in meteorites like Ryugu.

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Meteorite Match

Molecules found in ancient space rocks align with lab-simulated acids, suggesting extraterrestrial seeding.

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Life Before Earth

These molecules likely hitched rides on comets and asteroids, delivering life’s ingredients to newborn Earth.

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Universal Recipe

The same chemical pathways could spark life beyond Earth—anywhere conditions mirror interstellar space.

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Galactic Chemistry

This work redefines life’s timeline—chemical evolution in space may have started millions of years early.

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Island Innovation

From the labs of Hawaiʻi, scientists are reshaping astrobiology by simulating the chemistry of the stars.

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