A recent study by ETH Zurich and the University of Cambridge, published in "Science Advances," proposes that large, ancient soda lakes could have fostered the emergence of life on Earth. These lakes provided the necessary high concentrations of phosphorus, a crucial element for life, about four billion years ago.
Phosphorus, vital for molecules like DNA, RNA, and ATP, was needed in concentrations 10,000 times higher than naturally found in water for prebiotic chemistry to occur. The researchers, led by Craig Walton, suggest that large soda lakes without drainage could maintain these levels, even as early life consumed phosphorus.
These lakes lose water only through evaporation, retaining phosphorus. Influxes of phosphorus-rich river water would have sustained the required concentrations. Modern examples like Mono Lake in California support diverse life due to high phosphorus levels. The study suggests life may have originated in these large lakes, rather than small ponds, offering a compelling piece to the puzzle of life's origins.