Study Suggests 'Microlightning' in Water Droplets May Have Sparked Life on Earth

Stanford researchers propose that tiny electrical discharges in water sprays created organic molecules essential for life, offering a new perspective on Earth's origins.

The study shows that 'microlightning' in water droplets can produce organic molecules like uracil, glycine, and hydrogen cyanide, key components for life.
Researchers recreated early Earth conditions by spraying water into a gas mixture of nitrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia.
This mechanism challenges the Miller-Urey hypothesis by suggesting that frequent water sprays, rather than rare lightning strikes, could have jump-started life.
Microlightning occurs when oppositely charged water droplets collide, producing tiny sparks capable of driving chemical reactions.
The findings provide a new angle for understanding prebiotic chemistry and the potential origins of life on Earth.