Cosmic DNA Surprise

In the world around us we hear the letters DNA discussed. We hear them on TV. We hear them in the news. What do they mean? How do they work?

DNA is what we call the cells in our bodies that help us to grow. They are the cells that help us to have children that look like us. The shape of DNA looks a little like a braid.

Scientists thought DNA was only found in living things on the earth. They never thought they would find it in the universe outside the earth.

Not long ago, scientists were using a telescope. It was called the Spitzer Space Telescope. They saw a double helix shape. That is a shape that is usually found inside living things. They had never seen it in the sky.

They found out that this DNA shape in space is about 80 light years long. It is about 300 light years away from the black hole in the Milky Way. They think that it is moving at 620 miles every second. That is very fast!

Scientists think that the black hole is making the DNA turn very fast. The telescope showed them that there is DNA in other parts of the universe.