Astronomers at Cardiff University in the UK have found that the universe is deficient in phosphorus, which is necessary for life to appear. This is reported by Science Alert.
Scientists analyzed data obtained by the Herschel telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos observatory in the Canary Islands. They measured the amount of infrared light emitted by phosphorus and iron atoms in the Crab Nebula. They compared the figures with data obtained from the study of supernova remnants of Cassiopeia A (Cas A). It turned out that much less phosphorus is present in the nebula than in Cassiopeia.
According to the researchers, the difference is explained by the fact that Cas A was a supernova of a rare type. In this case, the amount of phosphorus that is formed in the explosions of massive stars can be unpredictable, and, thus, reduce the likelihood of chemical elements entering the terrestrial planets. Since phosphorus is a component of biopolymers (DNA and RNA), the appearance of living organisms in the Universe is probably a rare occurrence.
Supernovae are the main source of chemical elements heavier than helium. Most of the elements from helium to iron are obtained as a result of thermonuclear fusion in the course of the p-process, when the core of a heavy star collapses.