The seeding of life by comets.

The evidence that living organisms were already extant on the earth almost 4 Gyr ago and that early bombardment by comets and asteroids created a hostile environment up to about this time has revived the question of how it was possible for prebiotic chemical evolution to have provided the necessary ingredients for life to have developed in the short intervening time. The actual bracketed available temporal space is no more than 0.5 Gyr and probably much less. Was this sufficient time for an earth-based source of the first simple organic precursor molecules to have led to the level of the prokaryotic cell? If not, then the difficulty would be resolved if the ancient earth was impregnated by organic molecular seed from outer space. Curiously, it seems that the most likely source of such seeds was the same a one of the sources of the hostile enviroment, namely the comets which bombarded the earth. With the knowledge of comets gained by the space missions it has become clear that a very large fraction of the chemical composition of comet nuclei consists of quite complex organic molecules. Furthermore it has been demonstrated that comets consist of very fluffy aggregates of interstellar dust whose chemistry derives from photoprocessing of simple ice mixtures in space. Thus, the ultimate source of organics in comets comes from the chemical evolution of interstellar dust. An important and critical justification for assuming that interstellar dust is the ultimate source of prebiotic molecular insertion on the earth is the proof that comets are extremely fluffy aggregates, which have the possibility of breaking up into finely divided fragments when the comet impacts the earth's atmosphere. In the following we will summarize the properties of interstellar dust and the chemical and morphological structure of comets indicated by the most recent interpretations of comet observations. It will be shown that the suitable condition for comets having provided abundant prebiotic molecules as well as the water in which they could have further evolved are consistent with theories of the early earth environment.     

A fine mist of very small comet dust particles

A comet nucleus considered as an aggregate of interstellar dust would produce a mist of very finely divided (radius ～ 0.01 μm) particles of carbon and metal oxides accompanying the larger dust grains. These small particles which are very abundant in the interstellar dust size spectrum would provide substantial physical effects because of their large surface area. They may show up strongly in particle detectors on the Halley probes. A strong basis for serious consideration of these particles comes from the other evidence that interstellar dust grains are the building blocks of comets; e.g. (1) the explanation of the “missing” carbon in comets; (2) The S₂ molecule detection which suggests that the comet solid ice materials have been previously subjected to ultraviolet radiation (as are interstellar grains) before aggregation into the comet; (3) the predicted dust to gas ratio.     

Tracking the organic refractory component from interstellar dust to comets.

The abundance and composition of complex organic (carbonaceous) material in the interstellar dust is followed as the dust evolves in its cyclic evolution between diffuse and dense clouds. Interstellar extinction, laboratory and space analog experiments, dust infrared absorption spectra, the cosmic abundance of the condensible atoms, and space and ground-based observations of comet dust are used to impose constraints on the organic dust component as mantles on silicate cores.     

Chemical and biological evolution in space

Astronomical infrared spectra are used to confirm the existence of complex organic molecules produced by ultraviolet photoprocessing of interstellar grain mantles. This material is shown to be the major component of the interstellar grains between the sun and the galactic center and, by inference, constitutes more than 10 million solar masses — or close to one part in a thousand of the entire mass of the milky way galaxy. It may be demonstrated that the primitive chemistry of the earth's surface was dominated by these extraterrestrial molecules after aggregated into comets if the rate of comet impacts with the earth was comparable with that required to account for the extinction of species over the past 300 million years.

Ultraviolet irradiation of bacterial spores has been studied for the first time under simulated interstellar conditions. The inactivation time predicted for the less dense regions of space is at most several hundred years. Within molecukar clouds it is shown on theoretical and experimental grounds that this t the estimated cloud. However survival of spores during their initial exposure to the solar ultraviolet presents a problem for panspermia because it requires that in the process of ejection from the earth's surface they must be enclosed within a cocoon (or mantle) of ultraviolet absorbing material of 0.6 μm thickness. Thus, although panspermia can not be rejected on the basis of lack of interstellar survival there may remain insurmountable obstacles to its occuring because of the very special protective shield requirements during ejection from its planetary source.     

Chemical evolution in space--a source of prebiotic molecules.

In Laboratory Astrophysics at Leiden University a laboratory analog for following the chemical evolution of interstellar dust in space shows that the dust contains the bulk of organic material in the universe. We follow the photoprocessing of low temperature (10 K) mixtures of ices subjected to vacuum ultraviolet radiation in simulation of interstellar conditions. The most important, but necessary, difference is in the time scales for photo-processing. One hour in the laboratory is equivalent to one thousand years in low density regions of space and as much as, or greater than, ten thousand to one million years in the depths of dense molecular clouds. The ultimate product of photoprocessing of grain material in the laboratory is a complex nonvolatile residue which is yellow in color and soluble in water and methanol. The molecular weight is greater than the mid-hundreds. The infrared absorption spectra indicate the presence of carboxylic acid and amino groups resembling those of other molecules of presumably prebiological significance produced by more classical methods. One of our residues, when subjected to high resolution mass spectroscopy gave a mass of 82 corresponding to C4H6H2 after release of CO2 and trace ammounts of urea suggesting amino pyroline rings. The deposit of prebiotic dust molecules occurred as many as 5 times in the first 500-700 million years on a primitive Earth by accretion during the passage of the solar system through a dense interstellar cloud. The deposition rate during each passage is estimated to be between 10(9) and 10(10) g per year during the million or so years of each passage; i.e., a total deposition of 1O(9)-10(10) metric tons of complex organic material per passage.     

陨石、流星体与小行星及彗星的演化关系

小行星、彗星和流星体(meteoroid)都是绕太阳公转的小天体,它们只是在轨道特性和物理-化学性质方面有所不同,流星体泛指在行星际空间运行的、质量从10~(-16)克微流星体或微尘到10~8克的所有小天体,当它们闯入地球大气时与大气剧烈碰撞而产生发光的流星(meteor)现象,落到地面的流星体残余则称为陨石或陨星(meteorite)。     

Comets and life.

Some of the chemical species which have been detected in comets include H2O, HCN, CH3CN, CO, CO2, NH3, CS, C2 and C3. All of these have also been detected in the interstellar medium, indicating a probable relationship between interstellar dust and gas clouds and comets. Laboratory experiments carried out with different mixtures of these molecules give rise to the formation of the biochemical compounds which are necessary for life, such as amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, monosaccharides, etc. However, in spite of suggestions to the contrary, the presence of life in comets is unlikely. On the other hand, the capture of cometary matter by the primitive Earth is considered essential for the development of life on this planet. The amount of cometary carbon-containing matter captured by the Earth, as calculated by different authors, is several times larger than the total amount of organic matter present in the biosphere (10(18)g). The major classes of reactions which were probably involved in the formation of key biochemical compounds are discussed. Our tentative conclusions are that: 1) comets played a predominant role in the emergence of life on our planet, and 2) they are the cosmic connection with extraterrestrial life.     

On the evolution of dust in the solar vicinity.

The analysis of interplanetary dust shows that the majority of particles in out-of-ecliptic regions comes from comets and also that near solar dust, in the ecliptic regions, results most probably largely from comets. The intense radiation flux in the solar vicinity is expected to cause strong modifications in the material composition and surface structure of interplanetary dust particles and hence the analysis of near solar dust provides interesting insights into the evolution of meteoritic, especially cometary materials. Because of the lack of in-situ measurements our present knowledge concerning these processes derives from remote sensing, i.e. observations of the solar F-corona. In particular these are observations of albedo, polarization and colour temperature given in terms of average particle properties. For example the analysis of near infra-red F-corona data points to the existence of a strong component of irregularly structured silicate particles, most probably of cometary origin. The data may indicate a subsequent sublimation of different particles or different constituents of the particles. Here we compare particle properties derived from F-corona observations with model calculations of single particle properties and discuss perspectives of future analysis of cometary dust in the interplanetary cloud.     

Interstellar dust in the neighbourhood of the sun

The distribution of interstellar dust within 500 pc from the sun obtained from recent investigations is described. Statistical properties of dust clouds in the neighbourhood of the sun and individual data of two near clouds in high galactic latitudes are discussed. The present knowledge of the chemical composition of the interstellar dust grains is outlined. Possible relations between solar system solids and interstellar solids are indicated.     

Cometary constraints on the planet forming environment.

Molecular elemental and isotopic abundances of comets provide sensitive diagnostics for models of the primitive solar nebula. New measurements of the N2, NH and NH2 abundances in comets together with the in situ Giotto mass spectrometer and dust analyzer data provide new constraints for models of the comet forming environment in the solar nebula. An inventory of nitrogen-containing species in comet Halley indicates that NH3 and CN are the dominant N carriers observed in the coma gas. The elemental nitrogen abundance in the gas component of the coma is found to be depleted by a factor approximately 75 relative to the solar photosphere. Combined with the Giotto dust analyzer results for the coma dust component, we find for comet Halley Ngas + dust approximately 1/6 the solar value. The measurement of the CN carbon isotope ratio from the bulk coma gas and dust in comet Halley indicates a significantly lower value, 12C/13C = 65 +/- 9 than the solar system value of 89 +/- 2. Because the dominant CN carrier species in comets remains unidentified, it is not yet possible to attribute the low isotope ratio predominantly to the bulk gas or dust components. The large chemical and isotopic inhomogeneities discovered in the Halley dust particles on 1 mu scales are indicative of preserved circumstellar grains which survived processing in the interstellar clouds, and may be related to the presolar silicon carbide, diamond and graphite grains recently discovered in carbonaceous chondrites. Less than 0.1% of the bulk mass in the primitive meteorites studied consists of these cosmically important grains. A larger mass fraction (approximately 5%) of chemically heterogeneous organic grains is found in the nucleus of comet Halley. The isotopic anomalies discovered in the PUMA 1 Giotto data in comet Halley are probably also attributable to preserved circumstellar grains. Thus the extent of grain processing in the interstellar environment is much less than predicted by interstellar grain models, and a significant fraction of comet nuclei (approximately 5%) may be in the form of preserved circumstellar matter. Comet nuclei probably formed in much more benign environments than primitive meteorites.     

Origin of organic matter in the protosolar nebula and in comets.

Comet organics are traced to their origin in interstellar space. Possible sources of comet organics from solar nebula chemistry are briefly discussed. The infrared spectra of interstellar dust are compared with spectra of solar (space) irradiated laboratory organic residues and with meteorites. The spectra compare very favorably. The atomic composition of first generation laboratory organic residues compares favorably with that of comet Halley organics if divided into appropriate "volatile" (less refractory) and "refractory" (more refractory) complex organics.     

Dust optical properties: A comparison between cometary and interplanetary grains

A better understanding of cometary dust optical properties has been derived from extensive observations of comet Halley, complemented by other cometary observations at large phase angles and/or in the infrared. Also, further analysis of IRAS observations and improvements in inversion techniques for zodiacal light have led to some progress in our knowledge of interplanetary dust.

Synthetic curves for phase angle dependence of intensity and polarization are presented, together with typical albedo values. The results obtained for interplanetary dust are quite reminiscent of those found for comets. However, the heterogeneity of the interplanetary dust cloud is demonstrated by the radial dependence of its local polarization and albedo; these parameters are also found to vary with inclination of the dust grains' orbits with respect to the ecliptic. Such results suggest drastic alterations with temperature in the texture of cometary dust, and would favor an important asteroidal component in the zodiacal cloud.     

A comparison of the dust properties in recent periodic comets

Measurements of the thermal emission from the cometary dust coma can be used to derive the rate of dust production from the nucleus as well as the size distribution of absorbing grains. More than ten short-period comets have now been observed in the infrared over a wide range in heliocentric distance. Dust production rates are derived for these comets based on theoretical models of the thermal emission from small absorbing grains and calculations of dust grain velocities. The mean size and albedo of the dust grains is similar in these comets, with the exception of Comet Crommelin, which seems to have had larger, darker grains.     

Organics produced by ion irradiation of ices: some recent results.

Some results, recently obtained from laboratory experiments of ion irradiation of ice mixtures containing H, C, N, and O, are here summarized. They are relevant to the formation and evolution of complex organics on interstellar dust, comets and other small bodies in the external Solar System. In particular the formation of CN-bearing species is discussed. Interstellar dust incorporated into primitive Solar System bodies and subsequently delivered to the early Earth, may have contributed to the origin of life. The delivery of CN-bearing species seems to have been necessary because molecules containing the cyanogen bond are difficult to be produced in an environment that is not strongly reducing as that of the early Earth probably was. Moreover we report on an ongoing research program concerning the interaction between refractory materials produced by ion irradiation of simple ices and biological materials (amino acids, proteins, cells).     

Spectroscopic properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and astrophysical implications.

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are probably present as a mixture of neutral and ionized species and are responsible for the set of infrared emission bands in the 2-15 microns regions, which are observed in many different objects like reflection and planetary nebulae and external galaxies. PAHs are suggested to be the most abundant free organic molecules and ubiquitous in space. PAHs might also exist in the solid phase, included in interstellar ices in dense clouds. A complex aromatic network is expected on interstellar grains in the diffuse interstellar medium. The existence of an aromatic kerogen-like structure in carbonaceous meteorites and its similarity with interstellar spectra suggests a link between interstellar matter and primitive Solar System bodies.     

The formation of organic molecules in astronomical ices.

An absorption feature at 3.4 micrometers has been observed in various lines-of-sight through the diffuse interstellar medium. Its position and width lead to an identification with the C-H stretching mode of solid organic material. A possible mechanism for the production of organic solids in the interstellar medium is UV photoprocessing of icy mantles which accrete on dust grains in dense clouds. Furthermore, thermally induced reactions involving formaldehyde molecules in the mantles could be an important source of organics. Laboratory simulation of these processes shows that a large variety of oxygen- and nitrogen-rich species may be produced. It is shown that the occurrence of periodic transient heating events plays an important role in the production of organic material in the ice mantles. Finally, it is pointed out how future missions like the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) as well as analysis of comet material by Rosetta may be able to clarify the nature and evolution of interstellar organics.     

Formation of amino acid precursors in cometary ice environments by cosmic radiation.

Cometary ices are believed to contain water, carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia, and are possible sites for the formation and preservation of organic compounds relating to the origin of life. Cosmic rays, together with ultraviolet light, are among the most effective energy sources for the formation of organic compounds in space. In order to study the possibility of the formation of amino acids in comets or their precursory bodies (interstellar dust grains), several types of ice mixtures made in a cryostat at 10 K ("simulated cometary ices") were irradiated with high energy protons. After irradiation, the volatile products were analyzed with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, while temperature of the cryostat was raised to room temperature. The non-volatile products remaining in the cryostat at room temperature were collected with water. They were acid-hydrolyzed, and analyzed by ion-exchange chromatography. When an ice mixture of carbon monoxide (or methane), ammonia and water was irradiated, some hydrocarbons were formed, and amino acids such as glycine and alanine were detected in the hydrolyzate. These results suggest the possible formation of "amino acid precursors" (compounds yielding amino acids after hydrolysis) in interstellar dust grains by cosmic radiation. We previously reported that amino acid precursors were formed when simulated primitive planetary atmospheres were irradiated with cosmic ray particles. It will be of great interest to compare the amount of bioorganic compounds that were formed in the primitive earth and that brought by comets to the earth.     

Quenched Carbonaceous Composite: a laboratory analog for carbonaceous material in the interstellar medium.

We review the properties of Quenched Carbonaceous Composite (QCC), a residue produced from a hydrocarbon plasma, and the properties of its derivatives. A. Sakata and his colleagues have shown that QCC has a 220 nm absorption band, visible fluorescence matching the extended red emission seen in reflection nebulae, and infrared absorption bands that correspond to the infrared emission features in reflection nebulae, HII regions, and planetary nebulae. These properties make QCC a strong candidate material as a laboratory analog to the carbonaceous material in the interstellar medium. QCC is distinguished from the PAH hypothesis in that (1) it is a condensate composed of aromatic and aliphatic molecules, as well as radicals; (2) it exhibits a 220 nm absorption that is very similar in wavelength to the 217 nm absorption in the interstellar medium; (3) it exhibits visible fluorescence consistent with that seen in reflection nebulae; and (4) the bands at 7.7 and 8.6 microns are caused by ketone bands in oxidized QCC. The aromatic component in QCC is thought to be typically 1-4 rings, with the majority being about 1-2 rings.     

From the interstellar clouds, through the inner to the outer solar system: a universally distributed complex organic chemistry. Preface.

High molecular weight organic compounds are involved in the chemistry and physics of many astrophysical and planetary objects. They are or should be present in interstellar dust, in comets and meteorites, in the Giant planets and Titan, in asteroids Triton and icy satellites. They represent a class of very complex organic material, part of which may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth. Thus they directly concern prebiotic chemistry and exobiology.     

Interstellar dust models

Interstellar dust models, previously constrained only from the extinction curve, have been radically changed with the arrival of IRAS observations of the dust infrared emission. An important component of interstellar dust is likely to be made of small particles that show a fluctuating temperature upon impinging single photons and which can produce large near and mid infrared excesses ubiquitously observed in the Galaxy and external galaxies. The analysis of COBE data should soon improve our understanding of dust infrared emissivity and particularly for big grains in the submillimeter domain. We will discuss the key observations (spectral features, broad-band colors, correlations with gas tracers…) which put the best constraints on any dust models and show that the next generation of IR/submm satellites (ISO, SIRTF…) should improve our knowledge of interstellar dust composition and the dust redistribution of the stellar energy inside galaxies.