Science & Environment
Hydrothermal vents supply a geochemical precursor of ATP that could have powered early life
Source: Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories · Published
Where did the energy come from to power the chemical origin of life, and how did phosphate come to be the universal energy currency of cells? Biologists from the Institute of Molecular Evolution at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have uncovered a new source of energy t
Where did the energy come from to power the chemical origin of life, and how did phosphate come to be the universal energy currency of cells? Biologists from the Institute of Molecular Evolution at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have uncovered a new source of energy that drove primordial chemical reactions on the early Earth forward to kick-start metabolism. Their findings, now published in The FEBS Journal, identify phosphite and palladium, substances that naturally occur in H2-producing hydrothermal vents, as an inorganic precursor of ATP.
Related stories
Nearly 10,000 mapped reactions reveal overlooked steps in CO₂-to-fuel conversion
Scientists are increasingly exploring carbon dioxide (CO₂) hydrogenation—where CO₂ reacts with hydrogen over a catalyst to produce products like methanol—to convert CO₂ into useful chemicals and fuels. However, it involves thousands of tiny chemical steps happening on the catalys
Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories ·
Sorghum may help European agriculture face climate change
Research by INRAE and AgroParisTech suggests that global warming could have an overall positive effect on sorghum yields in Europe. Sorghum is a promising alternative to maize in livestock feed. Additionally, the crop requires less water and can tolerate higher temperatures. The
Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories ·
A beautiful Himalayan bird is changing its voice due to human activity, research shows
A sharp increase in human activity is affecting the way the Himalayan monal lives and communicates, studies show.
feeds.bbci.co.uk ·
New crocodile species discovered in rocks used to build the Great Sphinx
A new species of extinct crocodile from Egypt has been discovered, sharing more than just its home with the Great Sphinx. Herugavialis cairensis was found in the very same rocks used to build the iconic monument. And, just as the Sphinx is famously missing the tip of its nose, th
Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories ·
From coral reef conservation to climate resilience: Turning Indonesia's marine wealth into global impact
For Dr. Jamaluddin Jompa, the ocean has never been simply a subject of scientific study. He was born in Takalar, a coastal region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and his connection with the sea was forged early. Witnessing the degradation of Indonesia's coastal waters made him wond
Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories ·