Research Examines Amino Acid Integration in Ocean World Ices

New research in Science Advances explores how amino acids, like glycine and alanine, integrate into high-pressure ice phases (Ice VI and VII) found on large ocean worlds. This study measures partition coefficients under extreme conditions, offering crucial insights into the potential availability of bio-essential compounds in subsurface oceans. The findings support the possibility of life on these distant celestial bodies by clarifying how building blocks for life might persist.