Earth, Life

Life on Earth May Have Been Jump-Started by ‘Microlightning’
But real lightning would have struck infrequently—and mostly in open ocean, where organic compounds would have quickly dispersed. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing.
The surprising new idea behind what sparked life on Earth
We may be starting to get a grasp on what kick-started life on Earth – and it could help us search for it on other planets
Were it exploding stars that wiped out life on earth—twice? Scientists say yes
A new study reveals that supernova explosions may have caused two mass extinctions on Earth 372 million and 445 million years ago by damaging the plan
Distant star explosions could have wiped out life on Earth twice
"If a massive star were to explode as a supernova close to the Earth, the results would be devastating for life on Earth," said Nick Wright, an astrophysicist at Keele University in the United Kingdom, in a statement. "This research suggests that this may have already happened."
Life on Earth may have originated from microlightning in water droplets: Study
T here 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 U
Microlightning from water droplets may have sparked life on Earth
Study discovered that tiny electrical sparks, called microlightning, form when water droplets collide. These can create organic molecules.
New Scientist1d
More than half of life on Earth experiencing unprecedented conditions
An analysis of changes to global ecosystems has revealed that almost nowhere is untouched by the influence of humanity, with ...
Space.com on MSN6d
Is there life out there? The existence of other technological species is highly likely
Many biological molecules are chiral, meaning they exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other, like left and ...
Reuters1mon
Was the emergence of intelligent life on Earth just a fluke? Some scientists think not
All this happened about 4.5 billion years after Earth formed, with innumerable steps occurring in between that made our planet a cradle for intelligent life. An influential scientific thesis ...
The Independent25d
Life might be much more likely than we realised, scientists say – and it could help us find aliens
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...
Space.com22d
Boost for alien hunters? Earth life may not be so improbable, study suggests
"We're arguing that intelligent life may not require a series of lucky breaks to exist," said lead author Dan Mills of the ...