Life Began On Land?

Galvasean

Anthony Keidis once sang, "Far away you were made in a sea, just like me". Turns out the Red Hot Chili Peppers might have gotten that one wrong.

The concept, based on the latest cellular and geologic research, resembles a suggestion by famed naturalist Charles Darwin that life could have sprung from a "warm little pond" rich in nutrients.

Read more here.

Manach

Interesting development, in that the prevailing orthodoxy had favoured the sea. Given that early life would have been better incubated in a stable environment, and that the oceans were always a fairly stead eco-system I could see why they were favoured.

Capt'n Midnight

Tides were a lot worse back then, moon was a lot closer and days were shorter , so more mixing. Also less biomass to prevent runoff so on land more flash floods.

Adam Khor

At this point, I'm convinced that life could have arised pretty much anywhere.

Capt'n Midnight

Adam Khor wrote: »

At this point, I'm convinced that life could have arised pretty much anywhere.

Anyone got a complete list of where it could plausibly formed ?

Warm pools
Black Smokers
On minerals
in outer space
on another planet and ejected by a meteorite

energy sources
UV , lightening , chemicals , thermal

I like the idea of RNA acting as both enzymes and genes

"For cells to synthesize proteins—their molecular machines—they need a lot of potassium. Sodium blocks these activities," said study co-author Armen Mulkidjanian, a biophysicist at the University of Osnabrück in Germany.

"Life cannot live without synthesizing proteins, so it must keep potassium high."

There is no reason why later life didn't out-evolve earlier forms that didn't use DNA / proteins, an oxygen rich atmosphere would have wiped out most traces.

Adam Khor

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Anyone got a complete list of where it could plausibly formed ?

Warm pools
Black Smokers
On minerals
in outer space
on another planet and ejected by a meteorite

energy sources
UV , lightening , chemicals , thermal

I like the idea of RNA acting as both enzymes and genes

There is no reason why later life didn't out-evolve earlier forms that didn't use DNA / proteins, an oxygen rich atmosphere would have wiped out most traces.

I've read that some animals such as tardigrades can survive the vacuum of space for several days. I imagine (and I say imagine) that there may be other creatures that may be able to live their entire lives in space and eventually reach different worlds and adapt to them... you know, somehow.