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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Science
Vishwam Sankaran

Tiny ‘microlightning’ flashes inside water droplets may have sparked life on Earth

Life may have first emerged on Earth after crashing waterfalls or breaking waves sparked tiny “microlightning” discharges in water droplets, according to a new study.

The research, published in the journal Science Advances, demonstrates that water sprayed into a mixture of gases present in the early atmosphere can lead to the formation of organic chemical compounds such as uracil, one of the molecules in RNA.

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