1)

Abstract:
Hydrocarbons bound to nitrogen as well as reduced nitrogen compounds have
often been viewed as the original building blocks of life. The question of where these
compounds originated from when constantly exposed to the primordial atmosphere has
been examined by modern science and multiple theories have been proposed. The
possibility of nebular dust analogs playing a role in the catalytic process synthesizing
prebiotic molecules has been proposed and evidence supporting this theory has been
provided. Using iron silicate homologous to that found on nebular dust and temperatures
ranging from 500K to 900K, methane and water were generated using the FischerTropsch conversion from CO and H2 and ammonia was generated from using the
Haber-Bosch synthesis from N2 and H2. Using both of these equations simultaneously,
nitrogen-containing organic compounds were generated. These results demonstrate that
the nebular dust silicates found in the solar system could be partially responsible for the
origin of life. These silicates can catalyze synthesis of multiple prebiotic molecules from
molecules found in the original primordial atmosphere of earth.
2)

Scientific Critique:
The authors of this paper have a strong chemical background and with the
Fischer-Tropsch conversion and the Haber-Bosch synthesis, they are able to interpret
their findings. The authors do a very good job describing every aspect of their
experiment methodically and showing how each part relates to their overall results.
Another strength throughout this paper was their ability to look at the most accepted
theories of prebiotic molecule formation and show the flaws in each theory along with
why their theory and experiment may be able to overcome these issues. One weakness
within this study I found was that they use different names for the same type of material.
For instance, when speaking of the nebular dust, they refer to it as grains and as
smokes when later described as coming out of the vapor phase as condensates. These
constant name changes throughout the paper make it harder to follow.
When critiquing the discussion, the only large change that I would like to see is
the alternate theories described in the introduction such as the primordial vents causing
the formation of prebiotic molecules being included in the discussion in further depth.
Comparing these to the results and conclusions of this experiment would make the
article fuller and gives the reader something to think about when deciding upon its
validity compared to the other theories.
The significance and contribution of this research on the field of astrobiology
seems to be extensive. The modern ruling theory of the primitive earths atmosphere
states that it was composed mostly of CO and with this current research, it is evident

that nebular dust may be the answer to how this CO was converted to the prebiotic
molecules theorized to have been the building blocks for life itself. This research is very
important to the world of chemistry, providing evidence for the origin of multiple organics
used continuously in organic chemistry experiments. With research like this, it is
possible to take this a step further and try to analyze the more complex molecular
species generated and deposited onto the dust as implicated in the conclusion.

3)

Scientific Inquiry:
One question I developed while reading this experiment was about how these
dust particles are getting to earth and what the snow line was and how that related to
these particles traveling. It wasnt very clearly stated in the background of this research.
Another question I developed was about the primitive atmosphere and how this
may have effected the dust particles coming to earth through this atmosphere. When
they are discussing dust particles, do they mean hanging in the atmosphere? Or when
larger comets actually got through this primitive atmosphere and impacted with earth?