Life on Earth may have originated from microlightning in water droplets: Study – Interesting Engineering

A new study suggests that tiny flashes of light may have produced the first organic molecules on our planet, indicating the Miller-Urey hypothesis could have merit.2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago2 days ago3 days ago3 days ago3 days ago3 days ago11 minutes ago2 hours ago2 hours ago3 hours ago3 hours ago4 hours ago5 hours ago5 hours ago6 hours ago6 hours agoRupendra BrahambhattA close-up shot of tiny droplets.Jan Kopřiva/PexelsThere are multiple theories that explain the origin of life on Earth, but one of the most disputed ones was proposed in 1953 when two scientists named Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted an experiment where they simulated early Earth’s conditions using water, gases, and electric sparks to mimic lightning. At the end of their experiment, the duo found that amino acids, the building blocks of life, had formed. This led to the birth of the Miller-Urey hypothesis, which suggests that life on Earth began when simple chemicals in the ocean came in contact with energy sources like lightning. According to the hypothesis, the reaction may have led to the formation of the first organic molecules which formed the basis of life on our planet. Life from lightning—this may sound baffling, but a new study also provides evidence suggesting Miller and Urey may have been right. Researchers who undertook the study argue that when scientists think about the Miller-Urey hypothesis, what comes to their mind is big lightning strikes, but this may not have been the case. Instead, tiny sparks of light from waterfalls or crashing waves gave birth to life. “On early Earth, there were water sprays all over the place—into crevices or against rocks, and they can accumulate and create this chemical reaction,” said Richard Zare, one of the study authors and a professor at Stanford University. “I think this overcomes many of the problems people have with the Miller-Urey hypothesis,” he added.Zare and his team performed an interesting experiment to demonstrate the above-mentioned chemical reaction. They first studied the process that enables water droplets to gain electric charges as they turn into a spray or splash. Researchers observed that smaller droplets carried a negative charge and larger droplets had a positive charge. Surprisingly, when these oppositely charged droplets were brought close to each other, the study authors noticed ‘microlightning’, i.e., tiny flashes of electricity. The process is similar to how lightning forms in clouds but on a much smaller scale.To capture the microlightning resulting from chemical reaction—which are too faint for the human eye to see—the team used high-speed cameras. Despite their small size, these flashes or sparks held a lot of energy. Next, the researchers tested their effect. They sprayed room-temperature water into a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, and methane (gases believed to have existed on early Earth). As expected, microlightning naturally occurred when the water droplets interacted with the gas mixture This chemical reaction eventually resulted in the production of organic molecules such as glycine (an amino acid) and uracil (a key component of RNA). Our experiment shows that the “microelectric discharges between oppositely charged water microdroplets make all the organic molecules observed previously in the Miller-Urey experiment, and we propose that this is a new mechanism for the prebiotic synthesis of molecules that constitute the building blocks of life,” Zare noted.The study has been published in the journal Science Advances.Rupendra Brahambhatt Rupendra Brahambhatt is an experienced writer, researcher, journalist, and filmmaker. With a B.Sc (Hons.) in Science and PGJMC in Mass Communications, he has been actively working with some of the most innovative brands, news agencies, digital magazines, documentary filmmakers, and nonprofits from different parts of the globe. As an author, he works with a vision to bring forward the right information and encourage a constructive mindset among the masses.Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy10 hours ago10 hours ago11 hours ago11 hours agoLoading opportunities…PremiumIE PROFollow

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/life-on-earth-microlightning-water-droplets