NASA discovers life's building blocks on dwarf planet Ceres!

[Judi Lynn]

The organic matter present on the dwarf planet was spotted with the help of Dawn's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIR).

Nupur Jha Nupur Jha February 18, 2017 21:32 IST



Scientists have lately detected the presence of organic matter on dwarf planet Ceres' surface, which adds this planet in the list of other celestial bodies that have the potential to harbour life.

Other celestial candidates that are likely to shelter life are -- Jupiter's moon Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus and Mars.

The organic matter present on the dwarf planet was spotted with the help of Dawn's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIR). After analysing the accumulated information, researchers concluded that they discovered organic matter on Ceres.

"The organics discovery adds to Ceres' attributes associated with ingredients and conditions for life in the distant past," a NASA statement revealed.

More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/nasa-discovers-lifes-building-blocks-dwarf-planet-ceres-716551

[byronius]

1. Just add warmth and liquid water -- like those weird little seahorse kits, it seems.

I just finished Krause's Atom, which sketches how it got there. Star stuff, indeed.