Are we all alone? Blow to finding aliens after scientists discover phosphorus, a crucial ingredient for life, is 'lacking' in the universe

• Phosphorous may be more rare in the universe than is commonly thought
• The element is vital to cell energy storage and is part of the backbone of DNA
• It is created in supernovae - stars that have exploded at the end of their lives 
• New study suggests that typical supernovae do not help to forge phosphorous
• Earth may be unusually lucky, because it happened to be situated close to the 'right' kind of supernova
  
  
  Earth-type life may be more rare and precious than is commonly thought, according to a study that hints at a cosmic lack of phosphorus.
  The element is vital to energy storage and transfer in cells, and is part of the chemical backbone of DNA.
  Phosphorus is created in supernovae - exploding massive stars at the end of their lives.
  But the new research suggests that typical supernovae may not provide the conditions needed for forging the element.
  Earth may be unusually lucky, because it happened to be situated close enough to the 'right' kind of supernova.
  
  

  Astronomer Dr Jane Greaves, from the University of Cardiff, said: 'The route to carrying phosphorus into new-born planets looks rather precarious.

  'We already think that only a few phosphorus-bearing minerals that came to the Earth, probably in meteorites, were reactive enough to get involved in making proto-biomolecules.

  'If phosphorus is sourced from supernovae, and then travels across space in meteoritic rocks, I'm wondering if a young planet could find itself lacking in reactive phosphorus because of where it was born?

  
  

  The team used the UK's William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands, to look for signatures of phosphorus and iron from the Crab Nebula, the aftermath of a supernova explosion 6,500 light years away in the constellation of Taurus.

  A previous study had searched for phosphorus from Cas A, 11,000 light years away.

  Comparing results from the two observations showed much less phosphorus from the Crab Nebula than Cas A, which came as a surprise.

  
  

  HOW IMPORTANT IS PHOSPHOROUS TO LIFE ON EARTH AND HOW DID IT GET HERE?

  Though nowhere near as abundant on Earth as carbon, Hydrogen or Oxygen, phosphorous is one of the key elements to life on our planet.

  It helps form the backbone of the long chains of nucleotides that make up DNA - the building blocks of biological life as we know it.

  Phosphorous is also vital to cell membranes and the cell energy-carrying molecule ATP.

  Phosphorous likely came to Earth aboard meteorites billions of years ago.

  The meteorites are believed to have contained a phosphorus-bearing mineral called schreibersite. 

  Scientists recently developed a synthetic version of schreibersite that reacts chemically with organic molecules, showing its potential as a nutrient for life.

  
  

  Dr Phil Cigan, another of the Cardiff astronomers, said: 'The two explosions seem to differ from each other, perhaps because Cas A results from the explosion of a rare super-massive star.'

  The findings were presented at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science meeting in Liverpool.

  The scientists now plan to continue their search to see if other supernova remnants also lack phosphorus.

  
  

  WHAT ARE THE KEY DISCOVERIES HUMANITY HAS MADE IN ITS SEARCH FOR ALIEN LIFE?

  Discovery of pulsars

  British astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was the first person to discover a pulsar in 1967 when she spotted a radio pulsar.

  Since then other types of pulsars that emit x-rays and gamma rays have also been spotted.

  Pulsars are essentially rotating, highly magnatised neutron stars but when they were first discovered it was believed they could come from aliens.

  'Wow!' radio signal

  In 1977, an astronomer looking for alien life in the nigh sky above Ohio spotted a powerful radio signal so strong that he excitedly wrote 'Wow!' next to his data.

  
  

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  In 1977, an astronomer looking for alien life in the nigh sky above Ohio spotted a powerful radio signal so strong that he excitedly wrote 'Wow!' next to his data

  The 72-second blast, spotted by Dr Jerry Ehman through a radio telescope, came from Sagittarius but matched no known celestial object.

  Conspiracy theorists have since claimed that the 'Wow! signal', which was 30 times stronger than background radiation, was a message from intelligent extraterrestrials.

  Fossilised martian microbes

  In 1996 Nasa and the White House made the explosive announcement that the rock contained traces of Martian bugs.

  The meteorite, catalogued as Allen Hills (ALH) 84001, crashed onto the frozen wastes of Antarctica 13,000 years ago and was recovered in 1984. 

  Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that appeared strikingly lifelike.

  
  

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  Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that appeared strikingly lifelike (pictured)

  However, the excitement did not last long. Other scientists questioned whether the meteorite samples were contaminated. 

  They also argued that heat generated when the rock was blasted into space may have created mineral structures that could be mistaken for microfossils. 

  Behaviour of Tabby's Star in 2005 

  The star, otherwise known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has baffled astonomers since being discovered in 2015.

  It dims at a much faster rate than other stars, which some experts have suggested is a sign of aliens harnessing the energy of a star.

  
  

  
  

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  The star, otherwise known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has baffled astonomers since being discovered in 2015 (artist's impression)

  Recent studies have 'eliminated the possibility of an alien megastructure', and instead, suggests that a ring of dust could be causing the strange signals.

  Exoplanets in the Goldilocks zone in 2015 

  In February this year astronomers announced they had spotted a star system with planets that could support life just 39 light years away.

  Seven Earth-like planets were discovered orbiting nearby dwarf star 'Trappist-1', and all of them could have water at their surface, one of the key components of life.

  Three of the planets have such good conditions, that scientists say life may have already evolved on them. 

  Researchers claim that they will know whether or not there is life on any of the planets within a decade, and said 'this is just the beginning.' 

  
  

  News source 

  
  

  
  

  Comment by Oliviero Mannucci: I hope the  phosphorus will also increase in the brains of scientist who do not believe the aliens have already arrived on earth.