Data collected by the Philae space probe shows that comets have the potential to become cosmic laboratories to allow assembling of the essential elements for life. The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft landed Philae on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in November.

Philae lander used two separate instruments to get details of molecules during its landing on the comet. After analyzing the data for months, researchers confirmed that at least 16 organic compounds are present on the comet. Four of them have never been detected on any comet before.

Researchers published the findings derived after analyzing the Philae data in an article published Thursday in the journal Science. "Comets are loaded with all the raw materials like water, CO2, methane, ammonia, needed to assemble more complex organic molecules, perhaps sparked by UV-photons from the Sun or cosmic rays, or in the shock that occurs when a comet hits the surface of a planet like the young Earth", said Mark McCaughrean, a senior scientific adviser at the European Space Agency.

He said they have not been able to figure out when the complex molecules found in 67P came into existence. They could have formed in the early solar system and then incorporated into the comet. Also, they could have formed there later. However, one thing is pretty sure that comets serve the purpose of places required to find the building blocks of molecules so that they can be used later for protection of life.

The mission is heading towards the next important event set to take place on August 13 when the comet goes the closest to the sun.