Description
How did life begin? This presentation traces the quest to understand how life first emerged from a lifeless planet. It will provide a guide for the evolution of life from the dramatic conditions of early Earth to the state of our current understanding. The journey covers efforts to define “life” and leading theories—like primordial soup, RNA worlds, and hydrothermal vents—that explain how simple molecules became living organisms. It will highlight the newest frontiers in origins research, including protocells, systems chemistry, and the possibility that life may have started more than once, while also connecting Earth-based insights to clues from Mars, Europa, and beyond. The presentation frames the origin-of-life mystery not just as a scientific puzzle but as a profound opportunity, with implications for biotechnology, our understanding of life’s universality, and humanity’s place in the cosmos.
