ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Biology

Diamonds hold the key to primordial life

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 31, 2008
in Biology, Research
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

diamonds

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but according to a study led by Andrei Sommer, Dan Zhu, and Hans-Joerg Fecht, diamonds are life’s best friend too. According to them, billions of years ago the surface of these precious gems made it possible for life to rise, by providing just the right chemical conditions.

It is currently believed that life’s earliest forms evolved from something called “primordial soup” of simpler molecules. These authentic building blocks of life however still hold numerous secrets for scientists; the details of how these simpler amino acids molecules were transformed into complex polymers is something nobody has been able to answer yet.

A diamond is basically a cristalized form of carbon, older than the earliest form of life on Earth. By studying them, scientists were able to report that diamonds could have created chemical reactions billions of years ago that created the necessary conditions for life to evolve. They used a lab procedure that included treatment with hydrogen and found out that the diamonds produced a crystalline layers of water on its surface which conduct electricity and are essential for life.

What probably did happen is that when primitive molecules landed on these surfaces in the early atmosphere of our planet, the resulting reaction was probably strong enough to generate more complex organic molecules. As a result, these organic molecules led to the slow but instopable development of life, as we know it today.

RelatedPosts

US Senate says White House’s proposed DOE budget cuts are “short-sighted,” increases funding instead
Approximately 1 in 50 researchers falsifies or modifies data in studies
A hundred years later, Captain Scott’s Discovery expedition can offer important climate change insights
Scientists finally explain why urine is yellow
Tags: BiologydiamondslifeResearch

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Biology

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

byTudor Tarita
7 days ago
Biology

AI Could Help You Build a Virus. OpenAI Knows It — and It’s Worried

byMihai Andrei
3 weeks ago
Geology

It Looks Like a Ruby But This Is Actually the Rarest Kind of Diamond on Earth

byTibi Puiu
4 weeks ago
Animals

Same-Sex Behavior Is Surprisingly Common in Animals — Humans Are No Exception

byMihai Andrei
3 months ago

Recent news

There’s a massive, ancient river system under Antarctica’s ice sheet

July 11, 2025

I Don’t Know Who Needs to Hear This, But It’s Okay to Drink Coffee in the Summer

July 11, 2025

New Blood Test Reveals How Fast Your Organs Are Aging. Your Brain’s Biological Age May Hold the Key to How Long You Live

July 11, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.