On the possibility of carbon-free heteropolymers on Venus: a computational astrobiology study
Ishaan Madan, Shekoufeh Arabi Aliabadi, Johanna Huhtasaari, Ebba Matic, Emil Hogedal, Kinga Kamińska, Filip Nilsson, Axel Stark, Fernando Izquierdo-Ruiz, Hilda Sandström, Martin Rahm, Richard Zare
TL;DR
Scientists explore if carbon-free polymers could form in Venus's atmosphere, suggesting new possibilities for life beyond Earth.
Contribution
The study proposes and computationally models a novel class of carbon-free heteropolymers potentially viable in Venus's clouds.
Findings
R-substituted polyphosphoric sulfonic ester polymers may form via thermodynamically favorable pathways.
These polymers show sufficient stability to persist in Venusian clouds.
The study challenges carbon-centric models of life by suggesting sulfuric acid-based chemistry could support alternative biochemistries.
Abstract
This work poses and partially explores an astrobiological hypothesis: might polymeric sulfur and phosphorus-based oxides form heteropolymers in the acidic cloud decks of Venus’ atmosphere? Following an introduction to the emerging field of computational astrobiology, we demonstrate the use of quantum chemical methods to evaluate basic properties of a hypothetical carbon-free heteropolymer that might be sourced from feedstock in the Venusian atmosphere. Our modeling indicates that R-substituted polyphosphoric sulfonic ester polymers may form via multiple thermodynamically favorable pathways and exhibit sufficient kinetic stability to persist in the Venusian clouds. Their thermodynamic stability compares favorably to polypeptides, whose formation is slightly thermodynamically unfavored relative to amino acids in most known abiotic conditions. We propose a combined approach of vibrational…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAstro and Planetary Science · Planetary Science and Exploration · Space Exploration and Technology