Why were the complex organic materials delivered to early Earth likely protected during their journey inside the asteroid?
Answer
They were shielded by the bulk of the rock until impact
The delivery hypothesis hinges on the fact that the complex organic molecules found within meteorites were not destroyed during transit through the harsh environment of space. The surface of an asteroid is subjected to lethal doses of cosmic radiation and extreme temperature swings, which rapidly break down these delicate molecules. Therefore, the materials that successfully seeded early Earth must have been protected by the physical mass of the asteroid itself. The rock acted as a natural armor, keeping the organic cargo in a relatively stable, shielded environment until the impact delivered them to the wet surface of the primordial Earth.
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