Scientists have named a possible source of phosphorus for the origin of life on Earth

Scientists have proposed a new explanation for how one of the key questions of the origin of life, the problem of phosphorus availability, could have been solved on the early Earth. Alexander Mulkidzhanyan, a professor at the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics at Moscow State University, and Daria Dibrova, an associate professor at the same faculty, told Izvestia that geothermal fields and intense volcanic activity of a young planet could be an important source of this element.

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According to the researchers, phosphorus is considered one of the most important elements for the origin of life, as it is part of DNA, RNA molecules and energy compounds of cells. However, for a long time scientists have been discussing how sufficient reserves of chemically active phosphorus compounds could have been formed on the early Earth.

Experts cite the Kudryavy volcano on the Kuril Islands as an example. Due to the unusually high temperature of magma, its volcanic steam is able to transport significant amounts of phosphorus and other elements necessary for biological processes.

Scientists note that research by the group of geochemist Andrey Bychkov has shown that at high temperatures phosphorus is effectively removed from the depths of the Earth along with volcanic steam and can then accumulate in the near-surface environment.

"The work on the Kudryavy volcano has shown that at sufficiently high temperatures phosphorus can effectively turn into volcanic steam and be carried to the surface. This means that in the conditions of the young Earth, when volcanism was much more active than modern volcanism, such processes could serve as an important source of available phosphorus for prebiotic chemistry," Mulkidzhanyan said.

According to the researchers, such processes could be widespread on the young Earth. After the giant collision that led to the formation of the Moon, the planet's mantle remained significantly hotter for a long time than it is today. As a result, volcanic activity was much more intense, and conditions in many areas resembled modern high—temperature fumaroles - cracks and holes in volcanic areas through which incandescent gases and steam escape to the surface.

According to scientists, the hypothesis allows for a new look at the role of volcanism in the early history of the Earth and may help in the search for similar conditions on other planets.

Read more about new research on the origin of life on Earth in the Izvestia article.