Charles Darwin believed life began in a warm pond. Others think comets hit Earth, bringing life. Some believe lightning struck the ocean and started life.
Now, new research suggests waves and waterfalls may have helped. Scientists at Stanford University found that tiny water sprays create small sparks, called “microlightning.” These sparks can produce important chemicals needed for life.
Professor Richard Zare leads the research team. He says, “This helps us understand how life can come from non-life. Water sprays are all around, especially near rocks, where chemicals can gather.”
Many ideas exist about how life began. Darwin did not say how life started but imagined chemicals in a “warm little pond” creating living cells. Some scientists believe heat from undersea vents helped life to start too.
The study by Zare’s team shows that microlightning may be an important source of energy. It helps make key molecules needed for life. Other scientists think this new idea is exciting and want to study it more.
Vocabulary List:
- Research /rɪˈsɜːrʧ/ (noun): A careful and detailed study into a specific problem or issue.
- Sparks /spɑrks/ (noun): Small particles of a burning material or electrical discharge.
- Chemicals /ˈkɛmɪkəlz/ (noun): Substances with a defined composition that can undergo chemical reactions.
- Convince /kənˈvɪns/ (verb): To persuade someone to do or believe something.
- Important /ɪmˈpɔːrtənt/ (adjective): Of great significance or value.
- Molecules /ˈmɒlɪkjuːlz/ (noun): Group of atoms bonded together representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.
How much do you know?
What did Charles Darwin believe about the beginnings of life?
What did the scientists at Stanford University find regarding the beginnings of life?
Where do water sprays creating microlightning primarily occur?
According to Professor Richard Zare, why are water sprays significant for understanding the beginnings of life?
How did Darwin imagine living cells were created?
What is the impact of microlightning according to the study by Zare's team?
Charles Darwin explicitly stated how life started.
Professor Richard Zare leads the research team at Harvard University.
Microlightning is a term used to describe small sparks created by water sprays.
The study by Zare's team concluded that waves and waterfalls play no role in the origins of life.
Heat from undersea vents is believed to have aided the start of life by some scientists.
Other scientists are not interested in further studying the concept of microlightning as an energy source for life.
The study by Zare's team suggests that microlightning can be an important source of .
Darwin imagined chemicals in a “warm little pond” creating living cells, suggesting the importance of .
The new research shows that microlightning helps produce key needed for life.
Professor Richard Zare indicated that water sprays are abundant near rocks, allowing to gather.
Another theory proposed in the text suggests that life began due to heat from vents.
