Exploring the Possibility of Life on Earth Sparked by Meteoritic and Volcanic Particles
For years, scientists have been searching for evidence of how life on Earth began. Now, new research suggests that meteoritic and volcanic particles may have been the spark that started life’s chemical reactions. Scientists from the University of Manchester and the University of Leeds have discovered that when meteoritic and volcanic particles were exposed to aqueous solutions, they created an environment hospitable to the formation of biomolecules. These particles are thought to have been enriched in iron and magnesium, and provided an energy source that may have helped kickstart the reactions necessary for the formation of life. The team’s findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggest that meteoritic and volcanic particles may have been essential components of the early Earth environment that enabled the formation of life.
source: Phys.org