Life on Earth could have emerged from a lightning strike

Scientists consider the origins of life as one of the great mysteries. They suggest that thunderstorms could have played a crucial role in the process.

Phosphorus is one of the most essential elements of life. These days, there's no shortage of it. Still, during the earlier stages of the Planet's evolution, this trace element remained only found in insoluble minerals. In other words, phosphorus would not have been readily available for living creatures.

Until recently, scientists presumed that bioavailable types of phosphorus arrived on Earth from outer space. There is a significant flaw to this theory: meteorites were not so common.

A new study from Yale and the University of Leeds indicates that phosphorus might have been released by lightning strikes. By modelling the climatic conditions of the earlier stages of Earth, scientists discovered that thunderstorms typically occurred. Frequent lightning strikes may have produced enough phosphorus. Likewise, this kind of natural phenomena is exceptionally typical for hot and humid tropical areas.