2023-05-25 15:36:15
Featured paper
Scientific Reports
May 26, 2023
Chemistry: Meteoritic and volcanic particles may have promoted origin of life reactions
The molecular precursors needed to form the first life on Earth existed regarding 4.4 billion years ago, and are rich in iron from meteorites that hit the Earth or from volcanic eruptions on Earth. It may have been produced by chemical reactions facilitated by the particles involved. A paper showing thisScientific Reportswill be published in
Previous studies have shown that precursors of organic molecules (hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, etc.) were either brought to Earth by asteroids and comets, or produced by chemical reactions in the early Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. It is suggested that These reactions might have been fueled by energy from lightning, volcanic activity, or celestial impacts. However, due to lack of data, the key mechanisms leading to the formation of these precursors have not been elucidated.
Oliver Trapp and colleagues investigate whether ash particles deposited on meteorites and volcanic islands accelerated the conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into precursors of organic molecules on early Earth. Previous studies have suggested a set of conditions that may have existed on the early Earth, and Trapp et al. Carbon dioxide gas was injected into the pressurization/heating system (autoclave) set at 300°C. They also injected hydrogen gas and water into the system to simulate wet and dry climate conditions. To simulate meteorite deposition and ash particle deposition on volcanic islands, Trapp et al. Various combinations of minerals from one of the asteroids were fed into this pressurized and heated system.
Trapp et al. show that under a range of atmospheric and climatic conditions that may have existed on the early Earth, the conversion of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and alcohols was significantly affected by particles derived from meteorites and volcanic ash (such as iron). It was found that the It was also observed that hydrocarbons are formed at 300°C, whereas aldehydes and alcohols are formed at lower temperatures. Trapp et al. suggest that the gradual cooling of the early Earth’s atmosphere may have increased the production of alcohols and aldehydes. These compounds may then have participated in further chemical reactions, which may have led to the production of carbohydrates, lipids, sugars, amino acids, DNA and RNA. Trapp et al. calculated the rates of various reactions observed in these experiments and, using data on early-Earth conditions from previous studies, estimated that up to 600,000 tonnes of organic precursors per year might be produced throughout the early Earth by the mechanism described above. I speculate that the body may have been synthetic.
Trapp et al. propose that this mechanism, combined with other chemical reactions in the early Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, may have contributed to the origin of life on Earth.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33741-8
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