1. Meteorites might have created life's building blocks
Read the full article at rsc.li/2nJ3wSg, first published 12 February 2018
Scientists do not know exactly how life started on Earth. How was the first DNA or protein molecule created? There are several competing theories.
Recent research supports the theory that meteorite impacts converted simple chemicals into the complex compounds that are vital to life on Earth.
Researchers in Germany demonstrated that friction between rocks can catalyse the reactions that make α-aminonitriles. These can be converted into amino acids, which are the constituents of proteins.
This slide summarises a recent article published by Chemistry World. Use this slide as a lesson starter.
Image credit: Royal Society of Chemistry
An amino acid (threonine)
An aminonitrile

2. What do you think mechanochemical means? How did you work this out?
Meteorites might have created life's building blocks
Read the full article at rsc.li/2nJ3wSg, first published 12 February 2018
Scientists do not know exactly how life started on Earth. How was the first DNA or protein molecule created? There are several competing theories.
Recent research supports the theory that meteorite impacts converted simple chemicals into the complex compounds that are vital to life on Earth.
Researchers in Germany demonstrated that friction between rocks can catalyse the reactions that make α-aminonitriles. These can be converted into amino acids, which are the constituents of proteins.
An amino acid (threonine)
An aminonitrile
What do you think mechanochemical means? How did you work this out?
Think of one other way that life might have started on Earth and suggest how you could test your theory.
Explain two reasons why is it important to share and discuss our research with other scientists.
This slide summarises a recent article published by Chemistry World. Use this slide as a lesson starter. It also contains questions which can be used to engage pupils.
Image credit: Royal Society of Chemistry
They should be thinking of similar words like mechanic, mechano, mechanism. It means chemistry which uses friction and other forces to make or break substances.
Eg God, but this cannot be tested; aliens, so we’d have to look for evidence that they were on Earth.
To let other people check our work for mistakes; to let other people agree or disagree with our work.