A research team led by Prof. Ding Pan at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has provided new insights into the abiotic synthesis of biomolecules under deep Earth conditions, enhancing the “primordial soup” theory of life’s origins. Using quantum molecular dynamics simulations, they demonstrated that C-H-O-N fluids at upper mantle conditions (10–13 GPa, 1000–1400 K) can generate hundreds of organic compounds, including glycine, ribose, urea, and uracil-like molecules, without catalysts. These conditions favor the stability of five-membered ribose, essential for RNA assembly, challenging previous views of biomolecule degradation in extreme environments. The study suggests that deep Earth environments shield biomolecules from radiation and physicochemical changes, potentially providing the initial components for life’s emergence and offering insights into organic synthesis in interstellar space. Findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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