Shock Synthesis and Evolution of Biomolecules: Organic Materials Synthesis and Origin-of-Life-Related Biomolecules

This chapter describes the impact-induced formation of simple biomolecules related to the origin of life on Earth, especially meteoritic impacts on early Earth oceans. The present model consists of carbon and metallic iron in meteorites, water in oceans, and nitrogen in the atmosphere. Repeated impacts may create various species and polymerize into large molecules necessary for the origin of life. Recovery techniques of aqueous solutions are unique, and analytical methods are different from those for solids.