Did meteorites bring life's phosphorus to Earth?
Tuesday, August 30, 2016 - 06:11
in Paleontology & Archaeology
Meteorites that crashed onto Earth billions of years ago may have provided the phosphorous essential to the biological systems of terrestrial life. The meteorites are believed to have contained a phosphorus-bearing mineral called schreibersite, and scientists have recently developed a synthetic version that reacts chemically with organic molecules, showing its potential as a nutrient for life.