An artist’s impression of a young star surrounded by a protoplanetary disk. Illustration: ESO
A new NASA-supported study suggests that Earth may have received some of the key ingredients for life, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, from material that formed in the inner solar system, rather than mainly from distant objects beyond Jupiter.
NASA-supported scientists analyzed ancient meteorites and found that the distribution of these life-essential elements changed over time as the solar system formed. Their results indicate that as Jupiter grew, its powerful gravity acted like a barrier, limiting the movement of material between the inner and outer solar system.
This may explain why Earth’s chemical makeup closely matches planetesimals that formed closer to the Sun. The findings provide new clues about how Earth acquired the ingredients needed for life and highlight an unexpected role for Jupiter in shaping the habitability of our planet.
An illustration of our solar system. NASA/JPL-Caltech
Debjeet Pathak from Rice University, said:
“The study suggests that Earth acquired its inventory of the life-essential elements phosphorous and nitrogen primarily from the inner solar system, without requiring a significant contribution from outer solar system chondrites.”
Why it matters:
This study suggests that Earth may have received key ingredients for life, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, from material that formed closer to the Sun, rather than mainly from outer solar system objects as previously thought.
The findings also reveal that Jupiter may have played a crucial role in shaping the distribution of these life-essential elements by acting as a barrier that altered how material moved through the young solar system.
By helping explain where Earth’s building blocks came from and how they were delivered, the research improves our understanding of how our planet became habitable and could help scientists identify the conditions needed for life to emerge on other worlds.
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