In the mid-19th century, an unusual incident occurred in the southwest of France: a large meteorite exploded over the small village of Orgueil. Initial laboratory studies revealed the presence of organic compounds in its composition. However, decades later, interest in the find was reignited when structures resembling fossilized single-celled algae were discovered in the samples under a microscope. This discovery sparked heated debate: some scientists saw signs of extraterrestrial life, while others argued for a mineral origin or terrestrial contamination of the meteorite after its fall.
The second wave of sensational discoveries came in 1969, when a fireball streaked across Australia, leaving behind the Murchison meteorite. Experts found amino acids—the building blocks of proteins—in its fragments. The symmetry of these molecules drew particular attention: they were both ‘left-handed’ and ‘right-handed,’ unlike those on Earth, where only ‘left-handed’ forms prevail. This raised new questions about the origins of organic matter in space.
In recent years, interest in these meteorites has remained strong. In 2022, all five nucleobases that make up DNA and RNA were identified in Murchison samples. At the same time, scientists revisited the mysterious filamentous structures from Orgueil to determine whether they could be the result of terrestrial contamination. Modern analysis methods have found no traces of Earth DNA in them, reducing the likelihood of a terrestrial origin.
Organics from Space
Biologists from Iran have conducted a comprehensive review of all known evidence suggesting the possibility of life beyond our planet. They analyzed not only data on Orgueil and Murchison, but also observations of interstellar clouds, where astronomers consistently detect complex organic compounds. According to the researchers, the presence of the full set of ‘letters’ of the genetic code in meteorites is one of the strongest arguments in favor of extraterrestrial biology.
The scientists’ report notes that organic molecules discovered in cosmic objects form under conditions very different from those on Earth. This supports the hypothesis that the ‘ingredients’ for life can emerge in various parts of the Universe, not just on our planet. However, the question of the existence of fossilized microbes of extraterrestrial origin remains unresolved.
Potential Worlds
The authors of the study emphasize that life beyond Earth cannot be ruled out, as there are objects within the Solar System with conditions potentially suitable for life. Among them are Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus, where oceans may lie hidden beneath icy crusts. The researchers also remind us that billions of years ago, Mars had bodies of water and a dense atmosphere, making it more hospitable to life.
In recent years, astronomers have been increasingly detecting organic compounds in interstellar clouds, further suggesting that the ‘building blocks’ of life are widespread in space. These discoveries lead experts to believe that life may not be a unique phenomenon, but rather a natural stage in the evolution of matter in the Universe.
Mysterious phenomena
As part of their review, scientists also examined reports of possible manifestations of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Notably, they mentioned sightings of luminous objects in the atmosphere. One such incident took place in Tehran in 1976, when city residents and fighter jet pilots witnessed an unusual glowing sphere. Researchers do not rule out the credibility of such observations, but emphasize that their nature remains undetermined.
Despite numerous hypotheses and speculations, the scientific community continues its search for convincing evidence of life beyond Earth. Each new meteorite analysis, every experiment and observation brings us closer to solving one of humanity’s greatest mysteries.
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