Philae Lander Discovers Comet Is Rich With Organic Molecules

Scientists have analyzed the data from the Philae lander’s first 60 hours and found that the comet it’s riding not only has organic molecules, it’s “organic-rich.” The carbon-based substances are the building blocks of life, and the discovery will likely strengthen the argument that the ones found on Earth are from space.

On Thursday, a group of scientists released their findings based on the first 60 hours of data sent from the refrigerator-sized lander, according to Mashable. The most exciting confirmation is that Comet 67P is home to 16 organic compounds, four of which — methyl isocyanate, acetone, acetamide, and propionaldehyde — have never been detected on a comet.

The compounds are being called the “building blocks of life.” Although they are not a sign of life, they add weight to the theory that carbon-based molecules on Earth originated from comet’s hitting the planet eons ago.

The results of the analysis were released in the journal Science.

Philae scientist Fred Goesmann explained further to Mashable.

“One could probably say that comets with such a composition do not work against life. If such cometary material falls onto a planet in the right environment, emerging life could make use of it.”

How the molecules formed on the comet is still unclear, but the researchers suspect that they are leftovers from the formation of the solar system.

Speaking to the AFP, Professor Jean-Pierre Bibring explained that, “None of this was known before.”

“The physical properties and composition of a comet are nothing like we imagined.”

The Philae spacecraft has had a bumpy career in science. The lander sent all the recently analyzed data in its first 60 hours on the comet. After that, its battery burned out, and now its future is uncertain.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Philae lander first bounced off of the comet and failed to deploy landing harpoons, before settling in an awkward location inside a small crater. It’s new home is partially in the shadows, leaving the device starving for more solar power. On the upside, it’s also protected.

Scientists originally expected the spacecraft to burn up and die in the spring, but in its new location, they’re not exactly sure how long it will last. The last transmission was on July 9, according to the New York Times, but it has been out of touch ever since.

Whether the organic molecules on Comet 67P the Philae lander found are typical of all comets is still unclear.

[Image Credit: Getty Images]