NASA recreated the ancient conditions in which could be the first life
Source:More than four billion years ago, Earth was showered with deadly ultraviolet rays, so scientists believe that the first life originated in deep water. What was the cause of its origin is still unknown, but the astrobiologists from NASA for several years trying to figure that out. Especially for this they have built aquariums that accurately simulate the conditions of the primary sea. Finally, they were able to create organic reaction, which could be the first "spark of life".
It is believed that living organisms originated at great depth, close cracks formed during volcanic activity. Since at great depths there is no light and the impossible is vitally important photosynthesis, the first may rely on chemosynthesis. In this process, the first bacteria can feed on sugar, which emerged in the course of the reaction between the hydrogen sulfide from the vents and oxygen from sea water. These bacteria can feed on larger creatures — so, gradually, to develop the food chain.
Substances that are a part of the ancient sea, were identified in the study of fossils. Thus, the laboratory, the tanks were filled with water, pyruvate and ammonia, two substances which can form during the hydrothermal emissions and is important for formation of amino acids. Water was pumped all the oxygen and the added ferric hydroxide, which was extremely common in the first years of existence of the Earth. Also the water was heated to 70 degrees Celsius — about the temperature prevailed near the volcanic cracks.
Understanding how organic nutrients and minerals may experience a real cage, it's really important to realize in what types of environment can be life.
Astrobiology Laurie Barge, head of research
Adding to the water oxygen, the researchers were able to note the formation of the amino acids alanine and alpha hydroacids lactate. Last able to come together for in complex organic molecules, and subsequently give rise to life.
It is believed that in this way life could have formed and the icy satellites of other planets, for example on Europa of Jupiter and Enceladus of Saturn. Under their frozen surface, unable to escape the volcanic cracks near which swim live alien organisms. According to Laurie Barge, understanding is necessary for the emergence of life conditions, they can precisely know, on what planets you have to look for.
What do you think, on what planets should look for life and why them? Write their own versions in the comments, and to discuss the topic read more you can always in .
Recommended
Can genes create the perfect diet for you?
Diet on genotype can be a way out for many, but it still has a lot of questions Don't know what to do to lose weight? DNA tests promise to help you with this. They will be able to develop the most individual diet, because for this they will use the m...
How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?
If aliens exist, why don't we "hear" them? In the 12th episode of Cosmos, which aired on December 14, 1980, co-author and host Carl Sagan introduced viewers to the same equation of astronomer Frank Drake. Using it, he calculated the potential number ...
Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?
The pain caused to humans by the Gimpi-gympie plant can drive him crazy Many people consider Australia a very dangerous place full of poisonous creatures. And this is a perfectly correct idea, because this continent literally wants to kill everyone w...
Related News
Zombie mode: scientists have discovered a new state of the bacteria
Despite its seemingly ultimate ease, the bacteria develop very clever coping strategies. For example, they can go to sleep to wait out the danger, or for the sake of his colony. It turned out that in addition to activity and dorma...
Chinese CRISPR-kiddies might have improved the intelligence
a New study shows that a controversial experiment on the editing of genes, with the aims to make children immune to HIV, could also improve their ability to learn and form memories. Genetically altered the brains of two girls born...
Why do scientists put on a Zebra costume on a normal horse? In the name of science!
In 1952, the mathematician Alan Turing proved that spots and stripes on the bodies of zebras, tigers and leopards are due to different speed of propagation of chemical substances in the embryo. However, scientists still can not un...
Scientists have said, what else ate human ancestors
Scientists are constantly studying our ancestors, to answer many questions about their lives. One of the tools that helps this, is the isotopic analysis of the bones: so, he was able to find out how often they ate the Neanderthals...
Found a giant bee, which was considered extinct for 40 years
the entire history of the Earth have become extinct a lot of animals and insects, but sometimes people are able to detect extinct species even after many years. For example, in 1938, the sea has been found prehistoric fish coelaca...
The answers to the greatest problems of science: how far we've come?
About the nature of the Universe itself, much is unknown. It is the curiosity inherent in the people, leading to the search for answers to these questions, and moves science forward. We already have an incredible amount of knowled...
The Earth's atmosphere were larger than previously thought. It is outside the orbit of the moon
the Earth consists of several layers: the troposphere (upper limit 20 km), stratosphere (50 km), mesosphere (border 85 km), thermosphere (690 km border) and ectosphere (limit of 10 000 km). For a long time as the conventional bou...
The production of artificial meat will benefit the environment
Farming is one of the most carbon-intensive industries, accompanied by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, stimulating the global temperature change. So we once had to choose between suitable for living planet an...
NASA has found a new iceberg the size of London
Scientists from the Earth Observatory showed the next iceberg that has formed over many kilometers cracks in the ice shelf brunt. Ice block affects primarily its size: according to researchers, its area is 1.7 thousand square kilo...
#video | Test shot of gun probe "Hayabusa-2" on hard stones
Launched in December 2014, probe "Hayabusa-2" has reached the asteroid Ryugu in June last year and in October was almost ready to land on its surface. Action had to be postponed to 2019, as its surface was covered by loose soil, a...
The diversity of life on Earth has not changed since the dinosaurs
a Rich variety of land that we see today across the globe — the phenomenon is not new: the diversity of life on land has not changed in at least the last 60 million years ago. Recall that dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million ...
LIGO quantum will receive updates and will find gravitational waves every day
Scheduled update of advanced laser-interferometric gravitational-wave Observatory LIGO will use ingenious quantum methods, this was the other day. However, this is interesting. The upgrade price in the $ 35 million will allow scie...
Fossilized spider knows how to Shine eyes even after millions of years
When archaeologists reported the discovery of the remains of any animal, it is usually a question about the fossil bones. However, the researchers also detected the bodies of ancient insects, and often they are inside of amber. Th...
Archaeologists have found the trail of one of the last Neanderthals
it is believed that the immediate ancestors of modern humans, the Neanderthals, went extinct about 40 thousand years ago. The last place of their habitat is the island of Gibraltar, where they don't have to fight with modern human...
People still mate with Neanderthals. Why?
We know that Homo sapiens ("wise man") lived on earth together with the Neanderthals. Moreover, DNA analysis proves that men and women of both species (or subspecies, if you want) mated. Of course, the daily routine for the workin...
Under the Earth there are mountains — they are higher than you may think
the landscape of the Earth was incredibly diverse: on its surface is as smooth plains and deep trenches and huge mountains. The study showed geophysicists from the US and China, all this is nothing compared to the views at depths ...
A second skin for fruits and vegetables will double their shelf life
We throw away about one third of all fruits and vegetables. The California company Apeel wants to change that with a natural coating, which will allow products to stay fresh twice as long. The reason is simple: about a third of al...
Why do so many people believe in psychic abilities?
mind Reading and the ability to see the future is the skills that people usually are not born. However, studies show that many people sincerely believe in the existence of psychic powers. And despite the fact that numerous cases o...
If we ever charge the phone from Wi-Fi signals?
Our eyes are tuned only to a narrow band of possible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, about 390-700 nanometers. If you would like to see the world on different wavelengths, you would know that in an urban area you illumin...
Called the second reason for the existence of liquid water on Mars
in the Summer of 2018, the researchers found signs of the presence under the ice caps of the South pole of Mars. According to radar equipment of the Mars Express, the lake is at a depth of 1.5 km, and extends for over 20 km. Initi...
Comments (0)
This article has no comment, be the first!