Story perspectives

New Research Suggests Life's Chemistry Originated Inorganically

10/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers from Brazil, the United States, and Japan show that natural electrochemical gradients in hydrothermal vent-like environments reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid and acetic acid without enzymes.
The findings come from reactors simulating primitive Earth conditions, described in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The results support that life’s chemistry may originate from inorganic processes, not a primordial soup.
They could guide electrocatalysis and hydrogen production technologies.

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Story summary

Researchers from Brazil, the United States, and Japan show that natural electrochemical gradients in hydrothermal vent-like environments reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid and acetic acid without enzymes.
The findings come from reactors simulating primitive Earth conditions, described in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The results support that life’s chemistry may originate from inorganic processes, not a primordial soup.
They could guide electrocatalysis and hydrogen production technologies.