Important Facts For Prelims
Micro-Lightning and Origin of Life
- 20 Mar 2025
- 3 min read
Why in News?
A Stanford University study suggests that micro-lightning i.e. tiny electrical discharges within water droplets could have played a crucial role in forming organic molecules necessary for life on earth, challenging the Miller-Urey hypothesis.
What are the Highlights of the Study About the Origin of Life on Earth?
- Key Findings:
- The study found that splashing/spraying water droplets generate electrical charges, and their interaction produces micro-lightning (tiny sparks), facilitating the formation of essential biomolecules.
- It also demonstrated the spontaneous synthesis of uracil (a key RNA and DNA component), glycine (a fundamental amino acid for protein synthesis), and hydrogen cyanide (a precursor to complex biochemical compounds).
- These findings suggest that microlighting in natural water bodies like oceans, waterfalls, and rainfall may have driven prebiotic chemistry, aiding the emergence of life on Earth.
- Implications:
- Challenges to the Miller-Urey Model: It suggests that frequent micro lightning in water bodies might have played a larger role than rare lightning strikes.
- Astrobiological Potential: Similar mechanisms could operate on icy moons like Europa and Enceladus, increasing the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
What is the Miller-Urey Hypothesis?
- The Miller-Urey hypothesis (1952) proposes that life on Earth originated through chemical reactions triggered by lightning (atmospheric electricity) in the early Earth's atmosphere.
- It demonstrated that amino acids (the building blocks of life) could form when electricity was applied to a mix of water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen, suggesting that organic molecules necessary for life could form naturally under early Earth conditions.
- It provided a scientific explanation for abiogenesis (the origin of life from non-living matter).
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims:
Q. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? (2008)
Theory/Law Associated Scientist
- Continental Drift : Edwin Hubble
- Expansion of Universe : Alfred Wegener
- Photoelectric Effect : Albert Einstein
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 only
Ans: (b)
