Volcanoes: The Cradle of Life
Above: An artist's depiction of Archean eon Earth, with a pool full of cyanobacteria stromatolites!
Volcanoes are gigantic furnaces of fire and lava, hailed in human mythologies as dangerous and awe-inspiring places. However, a new study shows that volcanoes may have another role: a cradle of life.
Billions of years ago, in the Archean eon, life was struggling to survive on Earth. The surface was hot and methane clouded the world without breathable oxygen. It was not just the matter of a dangerous environment though. In order to survive and evolve, bacteria would have required RNA, a single stranded molecule that holds genetic information. Though RNA is less complicated than DNA, it's still not something that's easily made. A single RNA strand contains hundreds of letters, which all need to be placed just right to allow the process of evolution. Scientists have been confused as to what could have helped early life get this process correct, but a joint project between geologists and microbiologists have found a possible answer.
Earth was covered with volcanoes at this time and basaltic glass made from magma flows was a plentiful resource. Scientists used samples of such glass and mixed a powdered version with the chemicals needed to make RNA. Without the glass, no RNA was found but when it was added they discovered hundred letter long strands. The only thing they needed was a little help from a volcano.
There are still many questions to be answered about the development of early life. How did the compounds to make RNA first form and how did bacteria ensure the strands were made into long chains instead of a jumbled mess of genetics? However, now that we have a better understanding of this part of the process, we can begin to work backward to learn even more about life on planet Earth.
Check out more on the study here and if you're interested in learning about the earliest life on planet Earth, see our specimen from the North Pole Dome Stromatolites here!
Featured Product
SR-71 Blackbird Fragment
Latest News
-
Sep 11, 2025 Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible! Read More -
Aug 28, 2025 Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight! Read More -
Aug 21, 2025 Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans! Read More -
Aug 19, 2025 Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy Read More -
Aug 14, 2025 Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos! Read More -
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More
Cool Things!
Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible!
Last Thursday, an auction set a new record for Star Wars memorabilia, when a screen-used prop of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for over $3.6 million.
Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight!
Of the five layers of Earth’s atmosphere, the mesosphere (the third layer from Earth’s surface) is a height at which traditional aircraft have, thus far, been unable to reach on their own power. Generally beginning about 154,000 feet above sea level, even the world record for highest aircraft altitude falls about 20,000 feet short. However, a newly developing technology may change this reality, and it involves aircraft that punch high above their weight.
Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans!
In studying early human ancestors, known as “hominids,” anthropologists have historically found much wider variations from specimen to specimen than expected, particularly among other paleontological fields. A recent study argues that certain groups of hominid fossils previously thought to be an already discovered species constitute a new one entirely.
Specimen Deep Dives
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!