origin of life on Earth Archives

The results were striking. Despite temperatures below the freezing point, low oxygen levels and the absence of light, the ice cap was host to active chemolithoautotrophic bacteria. -- iC3 Polar Research Hub

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Icy Discovery In Svalbard Reveals A Vibrant World Of Life Waiting To Be Discovered

by Keith CowingOctober 25, 2024October 25, 2024

A new study led by a PhD candidate affiliated with the iC3 Polar Research Hub reveals how life can adapt and flourish even in the harshest conditions – and sheds […]

Pyrite sulfur δ34S values as a function of the natural logarithm of pore water sulfate concentration (r2 = 0.52). Colors correspond to TOC concentration. The solid black line is the line of best fit, with the equation y = −8.4ln([SO4]) − 3.4. The two dashed black lines are parallel to the line of best fit and run 20 ‰ above it and 16 ‰ below it. -- Johns Hopkins University

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

An Unlikely Hero In The Evolution Of Life On Earth: Worms

by Keith CowingJune 5, 2024June 5, 2024

One of Earth’s most consequential bursts of biodiversity—a 30-million-year period of explosive evolutionary changes spawning innumerable new species—may have the most modest of creatures to thank for the vital stage […]

Metabolism is the "beating heart of the cell". New research from ELSI retraces the history of metabolism from the primordial Earth to the modern day (left to right). The history of compound discovery over time (white line) is cyclic, almost resembling an EKG. CREDIT NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy/NASA/ESA

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Uncovering A Multibillion-year Epic Written Into The Chemistry Of Life

by Keith CowingMay 29, 2024May 29, 2024

The origin of life on Earth has long been a mystery that has eluded scientists. A key question is how much of the history of life on Earth is lost […]

Hexose sugar permeability through archaeal and hybrid membranes. Temporal dependence of average carboxyfluorescein (CF) fluorescence in the archaea-like G1PC phospholipid membrane (G1PC, filled symbols) and in the ‘hybrid’ phospholipid membrane (G3PC, open symbols) during the exposure to 1 mM of variant substrates delivered to the microfluidic coves. Mean (symbols) and standard deviation (error bars) were calculated from at least 10 single-vesicle measurements across three independent experiments. Data are processed and illustrated as described in Figure 1 legend. N is the number of single vesicles investigated for each substrate exposure and each type of vesicles. **: p-value < 0.01. Numerical values of CF fluorescence in individual vesicles for each lipid type during the delivery of each substrate are provided in S1 File and S2 File. -- biorxiv.org

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Membrane Permeability Selection Drove the Stereochemistry of Life

by Keith CowingMay 9, 2024September 18, 2025

Early in the evolution of life a proto-metabolic network was encapsulated within a membrane compartment. The permeability characteristics of the membrane determined several key functions of this network by determining […]

A schematic representation of the scenario we propose here for clean, high-yield production of prebiotic feedstock. Events move around clockwise from the top left: First, the Earth has a neutral atmosphere. This is reduced following a giant impact at 4.3 Ga by oxidation of the impactor’s metal core to produce a massive H2 atmosphere with significant methane and ammonia. This atmosphere quickly cools (in

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Drawing A Line Back To The Origin Of Life On Earth

by Keith CowingApril 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Scientists in Cambridge University suggest molecules, vital to the development of life, could have formed from a process known as graphitisation. Once verified in the laboratory, it could allow us […]

The most likely place for the origin of life is a geyser that erupts with a suitable period. -- q-bio.MN

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Stability Distillation Hypothesis For The Origin Of Life

by Keith CowingApril 4, 2024April 4, 2024

The essence of life is a frequency distribution conversion process of molecules accompanied by changes in information.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Life, Its Definition, Origin, Evolution, and Four-dimensional Hierarchical Structure, Biosystems

by Keith CowingFebruary 29, 2024September 18, 2025

The main unique features of biological systems are reviewed, and four necessary and sufficient attributes of life are formulated, based on the ideas of Ervin Bauer.

Members of the research team walk across the surface of Last Chance Lake in September 2022. At the end of the summer, the water has almost all evaporated, leaving a salty crust on the surface. But water persists below in pockets and hollows, and soft sediments sit beneath, creating a somewhat treacherous crème brûlée structure to walk on. Zack Cohen/University of Washington

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Shallow Soda Lakes Show Promise As Cradles Of Life On Earth

by Keith CowingJanuary 22, 2024January 22, 2024

Charles Darwin proposed that life could have emerged in a “warm little pond” with the right cocktail of chemicals and energy. A study from the University of Washington, published this […]

Thermal spring at Haukadalur valley (Geysir geothermal area) - iceland

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

The Potential Origins Of Life In Ancient Hot Springs

by Keith CowingJanuary 14, 2024January 16, 2024

Newcastle University research turns to ancient hot springs to explore the origins of life on Earth. The research team, funded by the UK’s Natural Environmental Research Council, investigated how the […]

Blank-subtracted GC/MS/MS chromatograms for extracted samples of the high methane organic haze particles, the low methane organic haze particles, and the one- and seven-day heated high methane organic haze particles. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Titan

Organic Hazes As A Source Of Life’s Building Blocks To Warm Little Ponds On The Hadean Earth

by Keith CowingJanuary 14, 2024January 14, 2024

Over 4 billion years ago, Earth is thought to have been a hazy world akin to Saturn’s moon Titan. The organic hazes in the atmosphere at this time could contain […]