Reactivity and Survivability of Glycolaldehyde in Simulated Meteorite Impact Experiments

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that sugars like glycolaldehyde can survive and transform into more complex molecules during simulated meteorite impact events, shedding light on extraterrestrial organic chemistry.

Contribution

First laboratory impact experiments showing that glycolaldehyde and related molecules can survive and become more complex under shock conditions.

Findings

Sugars survive impact shocks up to >25 GPa.

New biologically relevant molecules formed during impacts.

Impact processes can enhance molecular complexity.

Abstract

Sugars of extraterrestrial origin have been observed in the interstellar medium (ISM), in at least one comet spectrum, and in several carbonaceous chondritic meteorites that have been recovered from the surface of the Earth. The origins of these sugars within the meteorites have been debated. To explore the possibility that sugars could be generated during shock events, this paper reports on the results of the first laboratory impact experiments wherein glycolaldehyde, found in the ISM, as well as glycolaldehyde mixed with montmorillonite clay, have been subjected to reverberated shocks from ~5 to >25 GPa. New biologically relevant molecules, including threose, erythrose and ethylene glycol, were identified in the resulting samples. These results show that sugar molecules can not only survive but also become more complex during impact delivery to planetary bodies.