title: Relevance and Significance of Extraterrestrial Abiological Hydrocarbon Chemistry.
abstract: Astrophysical observations show similarity of observed abiological "organics"-i.e., hydrocarbons, their derivatives, and ions (carbocations and carbanions)-with studied terrestrial chemistry. Their formation pathways, their related extraterrestrial hydrocarbon chemistry originating from carbon and other elements after the Big Bang, their parent hydrocarbon and derivative (methane and methanol, respectively), and transportation of derived building blocks of life by meteorites or comets to planet Earth are discussed in this Perspective. Their subsequent evolution on Earth under favorable "Goldilocks" conditions led to more complex molecules and biological systems, and eventually to humans. The relevance and significance of extraterrestrial hydrocarbon chemistry to the limits of science in relation to the physical aspects of evolution on our planet Earth are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, United States.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Olah
authors.affiliation: Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, United States.
authors.forename: G K Surya
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Prakash