Microsparks between Water Droplets May Have Sparked the Origin of Life on Earth

Amino Acid: A basic molecule found naturally in plant and animal tissues, serving as a crucial element of proteins.

Ammonia: A colorless gas that typically has a strong odor. Ammonia is a chemical compound composed of nitrogen and hydrogen. It’s utilized in food production and applied as fertilizer in agriculture. Additionally, ammonia excreted by the kidneys is responsible for the distinctive scent of urine. It can also be found in the atmosphere and throughout the cosmos.

Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth or enveloping another planet or moon.

Bond: In chemistry, a semi-permanent connection between atoms or groups of atoms within a molecule, formed by the attractive forces that bind them. To separate the atoms within a molecule, energy in the form of heat or radiation must be applied.

Carbon Dioxide: (CO₂) A colorless, odorless gas emitted by animals during the process of respiration when oxygen interacts with carbon-rich food. It is released when organic matter is combusted, including fossil fuels like oil and gas. Acting as a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Plants utilize carbon dioxide to produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which is essential for food production.

Chemicals: Substances composed of two or more atoms that bond in fixed proportions and structures. For instance, water is formed when two hydrogen atoms bond with one oxygen atom.

Chemical Reactions: Processes that involve the rearrangement of molecules or the structure of matter, as opposed to changes in physical form (e.g., from solid to gas).

Chemistry: The field of science focused on the composition, structure, and properties of matter, along with their interactions. Chemists employ this expertise to investigate unknown substances, produce large quantities of useful materials, and invent new compounds.

Density: A measure of how closely packed an object’s mass is, calculated by dividing its mass by its volume.

DNA: (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) A long, double-stranded helical molecule present in most living cells, containing genetic information. It is constructed from a backbone of phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon atoms, instructing cells on which molecules to synthesize in all living organisms, from plants to microorganisms.

Charge: Physical properties that confer electric power, which can be either negative or positive.

Electrons: Negatively charged particles that typically orbit the outer regions of an atom and serve as electrical carriers in solids.

Fertilizer: Substances added to soil, water, or leaves containing nitrogen and phosphorus to enhance crop growth and replenish nutrients depleted from plant use.

Field: Research area; for example, Her research field is biology. It also refers to natural environments where research is conducted—such as seas, forests, and urban areas. This contrasts with controlled settings like laboratories. In physics, it denotes a space where specific physical effects (like magnetism or gravity) occur.

Graduate Student: An individual pursuing advanced degrees through coursework and research, typically after obtaining an undergraduate degree.

Greenhouse Gas: A gas that exacerbates the greenhouse effect by trapping heat; carbon dioxide is one such example.

Lightning: A spectacular flash of light on Earth’s surface resulting from electrical discharges occurring between clouds or the ground, capable of rapidly heating the air and creating thunder.

Meteor: (adj. Meteoric) A rock or metal fragment from space entering Earth’s atmosphere. In space, it’s called a meteoroid; when visible in the sky, it’s identified as a meteor; once it lands, it’s termed a meteorite.

Methane: The chemical formula for this hydrocarbon is CH₄ (indicating four hydrogen atoms are bonded to one carbon atom). It is a primary component of natural gas and is produced from the decomposition of organic matter in wetlands or as a byproduct of livestock digestion. Methane is significantly more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping atmospheric heat, making it a potent greenhouse gas.

Micro: A prefix denoting one millionth in the International Metric System.

Microorganisms: Tiny organisms, such as bacteria and some fungi, that cannot be seen with the naked eye, often consisting of a single cell.

Microscope: A tool used to view objects too small to be seen unaided, essential for observing bacteria and other microscopic life forms.

Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest unit of a compound. Molecules can consist of identical or different types of atoms; for example, oxygen (O₂) is composed of two oxygen atoms, while water (H₂O) comprises two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Nitrogen: A colorless, odorless, and inert gas that constitutes about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, represented by the symbol N. It can be released as nitrogen oxides during fossil fuel combustion and exists in two stable isotopes: nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15, differentiated by their neutron counts.

Organic: An adjective indicating a carbon-containing substance (in chemistry), or referring to agricultural products grown without synthetic and potentially harmful chemicals, such as pesticides.

Photon: The basic unit of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

Physics: The scientific study of matter and energy’s properties and behaviors. Classical physics explains matter’s properties using principles like Newton’s Laws, while quantum physics offers a more precise examination of matter’s behavior. Researchers in this field are called physicists.

Planet: A substantial celestial body that orbits a star but does not emit its own visible light, unlike stars.

Powerful: An adjective describing something exceptionally strong or influential, such as a potent drug or a powerful acid.

Protein: A compound composed of one or more long chains of amino acids, playing a vital role in all living organisms. Proteins are fundamental to cellular structure, muscles, and tissues while also performing essential functions within cells. Examples include antibodies, hemoglobin, and enzymes.

Sustainable: (n. Sustainability) An adjective referring to resource utilization in a manner that ensures long-term availability.

Theory: A systematic explanation of particular phenomena based on extensive observations, testing, and reasoning in science. It organizes knowledge that applies across various situations, providing insights into what occurs. Unlike casual definitions, scientific theories are established to be rigorously predictive. Ideas or conclusions not yet substantiated by solid evidence are termed hypotheses. Scientists who employ mathematics and existing data to forecast outcomes in new scenarios are known as theorists.

Universe: The entirety of existence, encompassing all matter and time. The universe has been expanding since its inception around 13.8 billion years ago, a period known as the Big Bang.