Life as we know it is probably found all over. "Meteorites are broadly classified as iron, stony-iron, and stony, typically corresponding to the core, mantle and crust of their parent bodies.
Stony meteorites are chrondrites or achondrite. A chondrule is a small, sometimes near-microcopic, spheroid of mineral, typically periodot (olivine). Other inclusions are semi-precious minerals. Very rare examples contain diamonds that were created on impact.
[...] Some chondrites contain carbon compounds, including amino acids. Meteor hunter Robert A. Haag examined one of the carbonaceous chondrites that fell near Muchison, Victoria, in southeastern Australia, on September 28, 1969, and found that after twenty years, it still smelled of alcohol and ether. Chemical analysis revealed that the rocks contained 15 different amino acids, and to be up to 12% water." (From my article, "Meteorites," in the July 2015 issue of Sidereal Times of the Austin Astronomical Society.)
"Researchers have spotted other extraterrestrial biological molecules in meteorites before, including amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The new study looked instead at nucleobases, ring-shaped compounds used to store information in RNA and DNA molecules, which carry life’s genetic blueprints. " from Science News (online) August 20, 2011 here: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/m...
Myself, I figure there's probably "fish" under the ice on Europa.
"Meteorites are broadly classified as iron, stony-iron, and stony, typically corresponding to the core, mantle and crust of their parent bodies.
Stony meteorites are chrondrites or achondrite. A chondrule is a small, sometimes near-microcopic, spheroid of mineral, typically periodot (olivine). Other inclusions are semi-precious minerals. Very rare examples contain diamonds that were created on impact.
[...]
Some chondrites contain carbon compounds, including amino acids. Meteor hunter Robert A. Haag examined one of the carbonaceous chondrites that fell near Muchison, Victoria, in southeastern Australia, on September 28, 1969, and found that after twenty years, it still smelled of alcohol and ether. Chemical analysis revealed that the rocks contained 15 different amino acids, and to be up to 12% water." (From my article, "Meteorites," in the July 2015 issue of Sidereal Times of the Austin Astronomical Society.)
"Researchers have spotted other extraterrestrial biological molecules in meteorites before, including amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The new study looked instead at nucleobases, ring-shaped compounds used to store information in RNA and DNA molecules, which carry life’s genetic blueprints. " from Science News (online) August 20, 2011 here: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/m...
Myself, I figure there's probably "fish" under the ice on Europa.