The compound is produced by the plant to free itself from harmful chemical elements, in this case, bromide.
The broccoli It has been an important element in Mediterranean gastronomy, and is recognized for its great nutritional properties. In addition, a gas emitted by this plant could be the key to discovering evidence of the existence of life on other planets, agreement to recent research by scientists at the University of California.
According to experts, the Broccoli along with other plants and organisms produce a gas, methyl bromide, as a defense mechanism that allows it to expel pollutants and toxins in the form of gases. This compound has been associated for several years with the appearance of life on Earth.
Also read: They discover a black hole “burping” a star that devoured years ago
During methylation, as this process is known, organisms add one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms to an undesirable chemical element, in this case bromide, to transform it into gas and release it, so if it is found in the atmosphere from some planet would open up the possibility of lifeexplain the authors of a study published in The AstronomicalJournal.
a particular compound
According to their proposal, methyl bromide remains in the atmosphere for less time than traditional biosignaling gases, since it is degraded by UV rays. Also, unlike methane or other elements, “there are few ways to create this gas by non-biological means, [por lo que] if it is found, it most likely happened not too long ago, and whatever produced it is still producing it,” explained Michaela Leung, co-author of the post.
“The methylation is so widespread on Earth that we expect life elsewhere to carry it out […] Most cells have mechanisms to expel harmful substances,” Leung said.
Although the hypothesis has been accepted by some members of the scientific community, at the moment we do not have the ttechnology to detect trace elements in the atmosphere of an exoplanet; however, the academics point out, it is expected that it will be available soon.
