Evidence for Abiotic Dimethyl Sulfide in Cometary Matter
Technological progress related to astronomical observatories such as the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) allows searching for signs of life beyond our solar system, namely, in the form of unambiguous biosignature gases in exoplanetary atmospheres. The tentative assignment of a 1...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | The Astrophysical journal 2024-11, Vol.976 (1), p.74 |
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| creator | Hänni, Nora Altwegg, Kathrin Combi, Michael Fuselier, Stephen A. De Keyser, Johan Ligterink, Niels F. W. Rubin, Martin Wampfler, Susanne F. |
| description | Technological progress related to astronomical observatories such as the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) allows searching for signs of life beyond our solar system, namely, in the form of unambiguous biosignature gases in exoplanetary atmospheres. The tentative assignment of a 1 σ –2.4 σ spectral feature observed with JWST in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b to the biosignature gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS; sum formula C 2 H 6 S) raised hopes that, although controversial, a second genesis had been found. Terrestrial atmospheric DMS is exclusively stemming from marine biological activity, and no natural abiotic source has been identified—neither on Earth nor in space. Therefore, DMS is considered a robust biosignature. Since comets possess a pristine inventory of complex organic molecules of abiotic origin, we have searched high-resolution mass spectra collected at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, target of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission, for the signatures of DMS. Previous work reported the presence of a C 2 H 6 S signal when the comet was near its equinox, but distinction of DMS from its structural isomer ethanethiol remained elusive. Here we reassess these and evaluate additional data. Based on differences in the electron ionization-induced fragmentation pattern of the two isomers, we show that DMS is significantly better compatible with the observations. Deviations between expected and observed signal intensities for DMS are |
| doi_str_mv | 10.3847/1538-4357/ad8565 |
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Since comets possess a pristine inventory of complex organic molecules of abiotic origin, we have searched high-resolution mass spectra collected at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, target of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission, for the signatures of DMS. Previous work reported the presence of a C 2 H 6 S signal when the comet was near its equinox, but distinction of DMS from its structural isomer ethanethiol remained elusive. Here we reassess these and evaluate additional data. Based on differences in the electron ionization-induced fragmentation pattern of the two isomers, we show that DMS is significantly better compatible with the observations. Deviations between expected and observed signal intensities for DMS are <1 σ , while for ethanethiol they are 2 σ –4 σ . The local abundance of DMS relative to methanol deduced from these data is (0.13 ± 0.04)%. Our results provide the first evidence for the existence of an abiotic synthetic pathway to DMS in pristine cometary matter and hence motivate more detailed studies of the sulfur chemistry in such matter and its analogs. Future studies need to investigate whether or not the present inference of cometary DMS could provide an abiotic source of DMS in a planetary atmosphere.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0004-637X</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1538-4357</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad8565</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Philadelphia: The American Astronomical Society</publisher><subject>Analogs ; Astronomical observatories ; Biological activity ; Biosignatures ; Celestial bodies ; Comet volatiles ; Cometary atmospheres ; Cometary matter ; Comets ; Dimethyl sulfide ; Extrasolar planets ; Extraterrestrial life ; Ionization ; Isomers ; James Webb Space Telescope ; Marine biology ; Mass spectra ; Mass spectrometry ; Observatories ; Organic chemistry ; Planetary atmospheres ; Rosetta mission ; Solar system ; Space telescopes ; Sulfides ; Sulfur</subject><ispartof>The Astrophysical journal, 2024-11, Vol.976 (1), p.74</ispartof><rights>2024. The Author(s). 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Therefore, DMS is considered a robust biosignature. Since comets possess a pristine inventory of complex organic molecules of abiotic origin, we have searched high-resolution mass spectra collected at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, target of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission, for the signatures of DMS. Previous work reported the presence of a C 2 H 6 S signal when the comet was near its equinox, but distinction of DMS from its structural isomer ethanethiol remained elusive. Here we reassess these and evaluate additional data. Based on differences in the electron ionization-induced fragmentation pattern of the two isomers, we show that DMS is significantly better compatible with the observations. Deviations between expected and observed signal intensities for DMS are <1 σ , while for ethanethiol they are 2 σ –4 σ . The local abundance of DMS relative to methanol deduced from these data is (0.13 ± 0.04)%. Our results provide the first evidence for the existence of an abiotic synthetic pathway to DMS in pristine cometary matter and hence motivate more detailed studies of the sulfur chemistry in such matter and its analogs. 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Deviations between expected and observed signal intensities for DMS are <1 σ , while for ethanethiol they are 2 σ –4 σ . The local abundance of DMS relative to methanol deduced from these data is (0.13 ± 0.04)%. Our results provide the first evidence for the existence of an abiotic synthetic pathway to DMS in pristine cometary matter and hence motivate more detailed studies of the sulfur chemistry in such matter and its analogs. 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| subjects | Analogs Astronomical observatories Biological activity Biosignatures Celestial bodies Comet volatiles Cometary atmospheres Cometary matter Comets Dimethyl sulfide Extrasolar planets Extraterrestrial life Ionization Isomers James Webb Space Telescope Marine biology Mass spectra Mass spectrometry Observatories Organic chemistry Planetary atmospheres Rosetta mission Solar system Space telescopes Sulfides Sulfur |
| title | Evidence for Abiotic Dimethyl Sulfide in Cometary Matter |
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