A bolt of lightning struck Earth with building blocks of life: Study

In a new study carried out by the chemists fromHarvard University, it has been found that the first building blocks of life landed on Earth a bolt of lightning.

To make the stunning scientific revelation, the team made an attempt to reenact what may have occurred millions of years ago on Earth in their laboratory.

In this experiment, the scientists made a stunning discovery of cloud-to-ground lightning.

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Origin of life puzzles scientists

Scientists have remained puzzled over how the origin of life took place on Earth. In their attempt to solve the jigsaw, they have come up with various possibilities of how life started to mushroom on Earth.

In this cosmic theory of the origin of life, it has been believed till now that the vital materials were deposited by comets or asteroids on the surface of Earth and that lightning struck the clouds which led to the creation of life.

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However, when the scientists inspected these theories, the chances of such cosmic events leading to the creation of life seemed less likely and collisions from space objects appeared to have a rare chance.

Also, the lightning zapping between clouds appeared to the scientists to be an inefficient method for producing thenecessary materials.

Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes behind the genesis of life?

Among these uncertainties, the scientists at Harvard University started exploring how cloud-to-ground lightning strikes may have led to the genesis of life.

To validate their new hypothesis, the scientists made their lab into a mini early Earth. The lightning strikes were stimulated across air, water, and land replicas which were kept in a controlled environment.

The scientists studied the products which were formed in these experiments. In their findings, the scientists discovered that both carbon and nitrogen went through a transformation intomolecules which are likely early building blocks of life.

It was observed by the scientists that carbon morphed into formic acid and carbon monoxide and nitrogen turned into nitrite, nitrate and ammonium.

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The researchers also added some rocky elements in the experiment and the minerals which are found on the landscape of Earth.

While carrying out repeated simulations and lightning strikes, they found that sulfide minerals, which are similar to those found near volcanic eruptions, were created.

The experts observed a spike in ammonia production which is a molecule important forlife on our planet.

“Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes could have generated high concentrations of reactive molecules locally, establishing diverse feedstocks for early life to emerge and survive globally,” the researchers observed.

(With inputs from agencies)