Tiny lightning streaks in fine spray can power chemical reactions that generate molecules for life, scientists sayCharles Darwin thought it started in a warm pond. Others point to comets that ploughed into Earth. And some suspect a bolt from the blue, a lightning strike into the ocean.How life started on Earth may forever be a mystery, but new research proposes a radical idea: that crashing waves and waterfalls may have kicked off the process by throwing up mists of water. Continue reading...
A new study suggests that "microlightning" in water mists from waves and waterfalls may have sparked life on Earth. Experiments show these microdroplets generate sparks that can power chemical reactions to create molecules for life. While other theories exist, such as hot undersea vents and impacting comets, this research proposes a new mechanism for prebiotic synthesis.
