Peptides can form well-defined structures in harsh, Venus-like conditions
When exploring solar system bodies for signs of past or present life, scientists have mainly focused on planets that have (or had) a liquid surface similar to Earth's. However, mounting evidence suggests that the ingredients for life may exist in a very different environment: the highly acidic clouds that blanket Venus.
Scientists have discovered that peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, can form well-defined structures in harsh, Venus-like conditions. When exploring the solar system for signs of past or present life, researchers have primarily focused on planets with liquid surfaces, like Earth's. However, new evidence suggests that life may exist in highly acidic clouds that blanket Venus, which are made up of about 98% sulfuric acid.
Peptides, which are believed to be too acidic to survive in such conditions, have been shown by MIT researchers to remain stable and fold into shapes that may allow them to have biological functions. Mei Hong, a professor of chemistry at MIT, explains that peptides remain stable in these acidic conditions due to the lack of water in the solution, which prevents hydrolysis, a chemical reaction that breaks peptide bonds.
The findings suggest that scientists should not rule out planets that don't resemble Earth when searching for life, as Venus-like environments might also harbor life.
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