NASA Study Challenges Theories on Where the Ingredients for Life Came From
A NASA-supported study from Rice University challenges the theory that asteroids and comets were the sole source of life-essential elements on Earth. The research suggests that Jupiter played a more significant role in the delivery of these materials than previously thought.
Why it matters
Refining our understanding of how life began on Earth provides critical insights into the potential for life on other planets.
The question of how life began here on Earth, or how simple organisms emerged from chemical compounds, remains a bit of a mystery. While scientists have confirmed through fossil evidence and the geological record that life began roughly 4 billion years ago on the seafloor (around hydrothermal vents), it is still unclear how the ingredients for life came to Earth. The generally-held view is that they were brought here by comets and asteroids from the outer Solar System, which also delivered Earth's surface water.
The article is a scientific report on academic research and contains no political or social bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in