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Related Experiment Videos

Prebiotic chemistry in clouds.

V R Oberbeck1, J Marshall, T Shen

  • 1NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Rapid prebiotic chemical evolution in clouds may explain the origin of life. This new hypothesis addresses concerns with previous theories, proposing atmospheric polymerization and oceanic origin, fitting Earth's early timeline.

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Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Geochemistry
  • Origin of Life Studies

Background:

  • Traditional Oparin-Haldane model suggests slow chemical evolution in primordial oceans.
  • Early Earth experienced sterilizing impacts, challenging continuous chemical evolution.
  • Woese's 1979 hypothesis proposed rapid atmospheric prebiotic reactions but faced criticism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel mechanism for rapid prebiotic chemistry in clouds.
  • To address Scherer's objections to the Woese hypothesis.
  • To reconcile atmospheric polymerization with an oceanic origin of life.

Main Methods:

  • Atmospheric synthesis and delivery of prebiotic monomers via comets, meteorites, and dust.
  • Scavenging of monomers by cloud drops containing clay condensation nuclei.
Keywords:
NASA Center ARCNASA Discipline ExobiologyNASA Discipline Number 52-50NASA Program Exobiology

Related Experiment Videos

  • Facilitation of polymerization through cycles of condensation, evaporation, freezing, and melting in cloud drops.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrates a viable mechanism for rapid prebiotic chemical evolution within atmospheric clouds.
    • Integrates delivery of reactants (meteorites, comets) with atmospheric processing.
    • Proposes polymerization within cloud systems, satisfying temporal constraints for life's origin.

    Conclusions:

    • Cloud-based prebiotic chemistry offers a rapid pathway to life's origin.
    • This model reconciles atmospheric reactions with an oceanic genesis of life.
    • The proposed mechanism aligns with astrophysical timelines for early Earth.