- cross-posted to:
- space@mander.xyz
This article summarizes findings showing that the Spitzer telescope has observed the spectral signature of tryptophan in an extrasolar system.
This isn’t the first instance of amino acids found extra-terrestrially (previously found on asteroids), but is the first found outside our solar system. Tryptophan has a very strong and very clear spectral signature (it is ubiquitously used in life sciences for example).
Given it’s a precursor to serotonin that must be the least depressing place in the universe!
No humans for light years. Sounds lovely.
This explains the Fermi Paradox, the aliens are too sleepy.
so tryptophan is a space chemical. give me some of that space chemical than.
Huh, that’s interesting. I wonder if life elsewhere (assuming we’re not the only planet in the universe with life, which sounds unlikely but not impossible) would tend to use tryptophan, and if there’s other amino acids floating around
The thing that amazes me is that the article says the stuff is at 7 degrees celsius. How much of the stuff does there have to be to be detectable at such a distance, and how can it average out at 7 degrees. Mind boggling stuff.