Oldest Evidence of Terrestrial Life on a Young Earth
Anna Azvolinsky | Jul 23, 2018
Microbes were living on land as early as 3.22 billion years ago, fossilized rocks show, 500 million years earlier than previously documented.
Primordial RNA May Have Contained Inosine
Primordial RNA May Have Contained Inosine
The discovery that the adenosine derivative aids self-replication adds weight to the theory that life on Earth originated from a mixture of RNA molecules.
The discovery that the adenosine derivative aids self-replication adds weight to the theory that life on Earth originated from a mixture of RNA molecules.
Mitochondria’s Bacterial Origins Upended
Shawna Williams | Apr 25, 2018
Contrary to some hypotheses, the organelles did not descend from any known lineage of Alphaproteobacteria, researchers find.
Search for Life on the Red Planet
Diana Kwon | Dec 1, 2017
Growing evidence points to a once-habitable world—and recent findings suggest that life could exist on Mars today.
Building Blocks of Life May Have Formed in Water Droplets
Ashley Yeager | Oct 23, 2017
Reactions that generate fundamental components of the cell run smoothly in microdroplets, study shows.
Twists and Turns
Mary Beth Aberlin | Jul 17, 2017
New starring roles for nucleic acids
Molecule Similar to Peptides Detected in Protostars
Kerry Grens | Jun 9, 2017
The dust surrounding emerging, Sun-like stars contains methyl isocyanate, an organic molecule.
Life Before 4 Billion Years Ago?
Jef Akst | Oct 20, 2015
A new estimate of the origin of life on Earth pushes back the date by 300 million years.
Early Code
Jef Akst | Jun 3, 2015
New research points to key properties of transfer RNA molecules and amino acids that may have supported the origin of life on Earth.
New Legs to Stand On
Mary Beth Aberlin | Jun 1, 2015
Reconstructing the past using ancient DNA