How ‘microlightning’ in water droplets may have sparked life on Earth | Current Affairs | Vision IAS

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How ‘microlightning’ in water droplets may have sparked life on Earth

2 min read

Origin of Life on Earth: New Perspectives

The mystery of how life began on Earth has intrigued scientists for decades. A recent study suggests that simple natural occurrences, such as crashing waterfalls and breaking waves, could have initiated the process by creating mists of water. This theory offers a fresh perspective compared to the traditional Miller-Urey hypothesis, which posits that life emerged from a lightning strike.

The Miller-Urey Hypothesis

  • The Earth formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago and initially had a mixture of chemicals but lacked organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen bonds, crucial for life.
  • In 1952, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted an experiment that demonstrated how organic compounds necessary for life could form through the application of electricity to a mixture of water and inorganic gases.
  • This experiment was groundbreaking as it provided a plausible explanation for the emergence of life, suggesting that a lightning strike could trigger the formation of organic molecules in the ocean.
  • However, over time, scientists have questioned the experiment's validity, noting that real lightning would strike infrequently and in locations where organic compounds would disperse quickly.

Findings of the New Study

  • The study, led by Stanford University chemist Richard Zare, found that water sprays could generate organic compounds without the need for external electricity.
  • The process involves water droplets developing opposing charges, with larger droplets being positively charged and smaller ones negatively charged, leading to tiny sparks termed as "microlightning."
  • When water was sprayed into a mixture of gases such as nitrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, organic compounds, including hydrogen cyanide, glycine, and uracil, were formed.
  • This finding suggests that life on Earth may have been initiated by tiny sparks from natural water sprays, rather than lightning strikes.
  • According to Zare, on early Earth, water sprays were ubiquitous and could have facilitated the chemical reactions necessary for life.
  • Tags :
  • Origin of Life on Earth
  • The Miller-Urey Hypothesis
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