One of the most elegant theories about the origins of life on our planet is that it was kick-started by a delivery from outer space. This idea suggests that prebiotic molecules—the building blocks of ...

Tryptophan, the essential amino acid behind the Thanksgiving myth that eating turkey can make you sleepy, has been found to exist on Bennu, a small asteroid that swings by our planet about every six ...

In a peer-reviewed analysis, scientists quantify amino acids before and after our “last universal common ancestor.” The last universal common ancestor (LUCA) is the single life form that branched into ...

Researchers demonstrated how amino acids could spontaneously attach to RNA under early Earth-like conditions using thioesters, providing a long-sought clue to the origins of protein synthesis. This ...

Amino acids are absolutely essential to our health—and for life itself. They are the so-called “building blocks” of proteins. They play a key role in the growth, repair, and maintenance of almost ...

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us? Nerd out with me for a sec about why amino supplements matter. They’re the ...

A big question in the origin of life on Earth is why it is based solely on "left-handed" amino acids. Studies on asteroid Bennu's chemical building blocks deepens the mystery. Credit: Christoph ...

Essential amino acids are organic compounds that your body needs to function. You can get them from certain foods. Amino acids, often referred to as the building blocks of proteins, are compounds that ...

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. These molecules come together to form proteins. Your body uses them for many important functions, such as making hormones, building muscle, and ...