Cyanide could play a key role in the emergence of life on Earth
California chemists found that cyanide could act as a catalyst in the reactions of the synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide on the early Earth. The study not only allows you to take a fresh look at the origin of life on our planet, but can also help in the search for life in other worlds. Perhaps this is what our planet looked like four billion years ago – a pale orange dot / ©NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center / Francis Reddy Yesterday, a chemical compound known as cyanide (although it would be more correct to talk about a group of substances - cyanides containing the CN group) is associated by many with a very toxic colorless gas, a deadly poison and even chemical weapons. Indeed, many cyanides are toxic. Cyanides, as well as their derivatives, were used during the Second World War as a chemical warfare agent, and they still help in the fight against many pests: mice, rats, coyotes, opossums, ants. However, it seems that cyanide can not only bring death, but ...