Study Highlights Role of Iron Sulfides in Early Life's Origins in Hot Springs

Research shows iron sulfides catalyzed carbon fixation in ancient terrestrial hot springs, offering insights into prebiotic chemistry.

Iron sulfides, abundant in early Earth's hot springs, catalyzed the reduction of carbon dioxide into organic molecules via nonenzymatic pathways.
Manganese-doped iron sulfides showed significantly higher catalytic activity, especially under sunlight and vapor-rich conditions.
Experiments simulated early Earth conditions, including temperatures of 80–120 °C, atmospheric pressure, and UV-visible light exposure.
The reaction likely followed the reverse water-gas shift pathway, converting CO₂ to methanol, similar to mechanisms in modern metabolic systems.
Findings support terrestrial hot springs as key sites for life’s origins and provide a framework for exploring prebiotic chemistry and extraterrestrial life possibilities.