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The origin of RNA precursors on exoplanets.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Xu, Jianfeng 
Thompson, Samantha J  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8039-194X
Sutherland, John D 

Abstract

Given that the macromolecular building blocks of life were likely produced photochemically in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light, we identify some general constraints on which stars produce sufficient UV for this photochemistry. We estimate how much light is needed for the UV photochemistry by experimentally measuring the rate constant for the UV chemistry ("light chemistry", needed for prebiotic synthesis) versus the rate constants for the bimolecular reactions that happen in the absence of the UV light ("dark chemistry"). We make these measurements for representative photochemical reactions involving SO32- and HS-. By balancing the rates for the light and dark chemistry, we delineate the "abiogenesis zones" around stars of different stellar types based on whether their UV fluxes are sufficient for building up this macromolecular prebiotic inventory. We find that the SO32- light chemistry is rapid enough to build up the prebiotic inventory for stars hotter than K5 (4400 K). We show how the abiogenesis zone overlaps with the liquid water habitable zone. Stars cooler than K5 may also drive the formation of these building blocks if they are very active. The HS- light chemistry is too slow to work even for early Earth.

Description

Keywords

Algorithms, Exobiology, Extraterrestrial Environment, Photochemistry, Planets, RNA Precursors, Ultraviolet Rays

Journal Title

Sci Adv

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2375-2548
2375-2548

Volume Title

4

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Rights

Publisher's own licence