B3 - vitamins from space

The new study shows that vitamin B3 on the Earth's surface is largely derived from the universe, brought to Earth on carbon-rich meteors.

Vitamin B3 , also called nicotinic acid or niacin , is the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) prefix , which plays a key role in metabolic processes and is the key to the development of ancient life.

Meteorite rain helped bring vitamin B3 to Earth - (Photo: NASA)

And although B3 can be synthesized on ancient Earth, experts say it is likely that this vitamin is brought to Earth on carbon-rich meteorites millions of years ago.

When studying a series of meteorite samples, the team of NASA's Goddard Biological Laboratory found that vitamin B3 is between 30 and 600 parts per billion, evidence that the compound is naturally formed. from somewhere in space.

'We found another form of vitamin B3 (and other pyridine carboxylic acids) in meteorites from asteroids' , Space.com explains Karen Smith of Pennsylvania State University, co-leader. research.

However, the next question is whether the B3-rich meteorite is a testament to extraterrestrial life, expert Smith and colleagues do not think so, because nicotinic acid on meteorites comes from molecules. not used to create life.