By creating protocells in hot, alkaline seawater, a UCL-led research team has added to evidence that the origin of life could have been in deep-sea hydrothermal vents rather than shallow […]
University College London
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Press Release
Early Life On Earth Limited By Nitrogenase Enzyme
The enzyme-nitrogenase-can be traced back to the universal common ancestor of all cells more than four billion years ago. Found only in bacteria today, nitrogenase is nevertheless essential for the […]
Posted inOrigin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Origin Of Life Insight: Peptides Can Form Without Amino Acids
Peptides, one of the fundamental building blocks of life, can be formed from the primitive precursors of amino acids under conditions similar to those expected on the primordial Earth, finds […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release
Tracking Records Of The Oldest Life Forms On Earth
The discovery provides a new characteristic ‘biosignature’ to track the remains of ancient life preserved in rocks which are significantly altered over billions of years and could help identify life […]
Posted inFossils & Paleontology, Press Release
Earth's Oldest Fossils Discovered
Remains of microorganisms at least 3,770 million years old have been discovered by an international team led by UCL scientists, providing direct evidence of one of the oldest life forms […]
Posted inTitan
Titan's Atmosphere Even More Earth-like than Previously Thought
Scientists at UCL have observed how a widespread polar wind is driving gas from the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. The team analysed data gathered over seven years by the […]