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Let there be lightning! The vital phenomenon at the origin of life on earth

Written by Tristan Free (Digital Editor)

Lightning strikes sky fulgurite origin of life on Earth

An exquisite fulgurite sample has revealed that lightning likely played a greater role than meteor strikes in providing accessible phosphorus for the development of life on Earth.  Recent research has shown that lightning played a much larger role in creating the conditions necessary for life to emerge than had previously been thought. By studying a fulgurite rock sample created by a lightning strike in 2016, a team of researchers from the University of Leeds (Leeds, UK) have shown that the Earth’s supply of available phosphorus – essential for life – was generated in greater quantities by lightning than meteor strikes....

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