New Study Suggests Ancient Hot Springs May Have Played Key Role in Life's Origins

Research reveals that iron sulfides in prehistoric hot springs could have catalyzed critical chemical reactions for early life formation.

Scientists have long debated whether life began in deep-sea hydrothermal vents or on land, and new findings highlight the potential role of ancient hot springs.
The study demonstrates that iron sulfides, minerals found in hot springs, can catalyze carbon fixation, converting carbon dioxide into organic molecules essential for life.
Experiments simulating early Earth's hot spring conditions showed methanol production increased with sunlight, higher temperatures, and water vapor, suggesting these factors were crucial in prebiotic chemistry.
The chemical processes observed in hot springs mimic ancient biological pathways, such as the acetyl-CoA pathway, thought to be one of the first mechanisms of carbon fixation in living organisms.
This research broadens the scope of environments where life could have originated, showing similarities between conditions in land-based hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents.