Study: Peptides can form well-defined structures in harsh, Venus-like conditions

Researchers at MIT have discovered that short peptides can remain stable and even fold into functional shapes within highly acidic environments. As MIT News reports, these molecules survived in solutions of ninety-eight percent sulfuric acid, mimicking the harsh conditions found in the clouds of Venus. The team found that the lack of water in such concentrated acid prevents the chemical reactions that typically break these bonds, allowing the peptides to form specific three-dimensional loops. This finding suggests that the search for extraterrestrial life should expand beyond Earth-like planets to include more corrosive atmospheric archetypes.

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