Crucial building blocks of life on Earth can more easily form in outer space – new research

Perhaps life is more common in the universe that we think.

Christian Schroeder, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Planetary Exploration, University of Stirling • conversation
April 18, 2024 • ~6 min

Physics has long failed to explain life – but we're testing a groundbreaking new theory in the lab

Life seems to just mysteriously ‘emerge’ from non-living parts, such as elementary particles.

Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry, University of Glasgow • conversation
Oct. 24, 2023 • ~7 min

Water in space – a 'Goldilocks' star reveals previously hidden step in how water gets to planets like Earth

Astronomers have long known where water is first formed in the universe and how it ends up on planets, asteroids and comets. A recent discovery has finally answered what happens in between.

John Tobin, Scientist, National Radio Astronomy Observatory • conversation
March 16, 2023 • ~9 min

Water was both essential and a barrier to early life on Earth – microdroplets are one potential solution to this paradox

The chemical reaction that forms essential biomolecules like proteins and DNA normally doesn’t occur in the presence of water. Microdroplets provide a unique environment that make it possible.

Nicolás M. Morato, PhD Candidate in Chemistry, Purdue University • conversation
Nov. 2, 2022 • ~8 min

Material from asteroid Ryugu starts to give up secrets of early Solar System

We may be on the brink of discovering whether water and organic material, which enabled life on Earth, came from asteroids.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
Dec. 21, 2021 • ~8 min

Deep-sea volcanic eruptions create megaplumes that may have dispersed early life

Volcanic eruptions on the seafloor are mysterious, but new research provides fresh clues.

Sam Pegler, University Academic Fellow in Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds • conversation
April 21, 2021 • ~8 min

How scientists found rare fireball meteorite pieces on a driveway – and what they could teach us

It looks like a broken barbeque brickette, but the newfound meteorite is a capsule of the Solar System's history that could reveal the secrets of the origin of life.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
March 9, 2021 • ~8 min

How scientists found rare fireball meteorite pieces on a UK driveway – and what they could teach us

It looks like a broken barbeque brickette, but the newfound meteorite is a capsule of the Solar System's history that could reveal the secrets of the origin of life.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
March 9, 2021 • ~8 min

How scientists found rare fireball meteorite pieces on a UK driveway – and what it could teach us

It looks like a broken barbeque brickette, but the newfound meteorite is a capsule of the Solar System's history that could reveal the secrets of the origin of life.

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University • conversation
March 9, 2021 • ~8 min

Hayabusa 2: returning asteroid sample could help uncover the origins of life and the solar system

If the building blocks of life were present at the time that Earth was born, this could mean life is common in the universe.

John Bridges, Professor of Planetary Science, University of Leicester • conversation
Dec. 4, 2020 • ~7 min

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