Source of Life on Earth

• Meteorites are important because they may represent the pathway by which life arrived on Earth. One source of meteorites is the debris field of comets. Many scientists believe it is possible that this debris retains much of its durable organic material. In fact, meteorites have been found to contain amino acids, the building blocks of life. Furthermore, this organic material may undergo unique chemical changes when exposed to the high temperatures of atmospheric entry. How much of this organic material survives to be deposited in the atmosphere and on the surface of the planet is currently being investigated by scientists.