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Life arose on Earth shockingly quickly on Earth as best as we can tell from the fossil record. Especially compared to apparently much more difficult innovation
by Symmetry 2y ago
Life arose on Earth shockingly quickly on Earth as best as we can tell from the fossil record. Especially compared to apparently much more difficult innovations like photosynthesis, mitochondria, or multi-cellularity. I wouldn't at all be surprised if bodies in the solar system with liquid water and active enough geologies to produce consumable chemicals have primitive life.
- mapt 2y agoOne of the inputs to this that has shifted recently is that scientists are finding it difficult to locate a core sample of solid rock, anywhere, that is completely sterile. It seems like ecology percolates through almost anything in the crust with pore spaces and a temperature under or at 100C or so. That shift from "Opportunities for life" being measured based on surface area to volume is dramatic.