Comet Lovejoy
Researchers at the Paris Observatory, using a 30-meter radio telescope in Sierra Nevada, Spain took measurements of Comet C/2014 Q2 (aka Comet Lovejoy) in January 2015 when it was at its brightest. Among the 21 compounds the scientists found were ethanol and glycolaldehyde, simple sugar. Researchers studying data from the Rosetta mission claim they have found the same molecules on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (aka Comet 67P).
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
The Parisian scientist also detected ethylene glycol, formic acid and acetaldehyde, which have been discovered on Hale-Bopp and other comets. The Philae lander has detected methyl isocyanate, acetone and acetamide which have not been reported in other comets. Philae found more organic molecules, some containing nitrogen.
Since comets contain some of the oldest material in the solar system, they might explain how the substances for life were brought to Earth. In 2009, the Stardust mission, which flew by Comet Wild 2 in 2004 and returned to earth, brought back samples which contained glycine, a simple amino acid. It is still unknown how it got onto the comet but more complex molecules could be formed when an amino acid-carrying comet made impact with the Earth's surface.
Comet Wild 2
Comets might also demonstrate how planes were formed during the sun's youth.
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