An amino acid, one of the building blocks of life, has been spotted in deep space, signalling that alien life forms could indeed exist on other planets. If the find stands up to scutiny, it means that the sorts of chemistry needed to create life are not unique to Earth, verifying one of astrobiology's cherished theories. This would add weight to the idea that life exists on other planets, or that molecules from outer space kick-started life on Earth.

According to the New Scientist, more than 130 molecules have been identified in interstellar space so far, including sugars and ethanol. But amino acids are a particular important find because they link up to form proteins, the molecule that run, and to large extend make up, human cells.1

quoted from The Straits Times: Monday, July 29, 2002

• 1. Interstellar Glycine,
  Kuan, Yi‐Jehng, Charnley Steven B., Huang Hui‐Chun, Tseng Wei‐Ling, and Kisiel Zbigniew
  , The Astrophysical Journal, 08/2003, Volume 593, Issue 2, p.848 - 867, (2003)