The Origin of Life, Part 1 of 2

Our story begins 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang, a cataclysmic event that birthed the known universe. “Imagine if our universe was compressed into a small ball. The pressure and temperature inside would be enormous. At some point, it became impossible to withstand them and here comes the Big Bang.” As the universe expanded and cooled further, electrons eventually combined with nuclei to form neutral atoms in a process called recombination. This occurred about 380,000 years after the Big Bang, making the universe transparent to radiation. The light from this period, known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), still permeates the universe today, providing a snapshot of the infant universe. Supernovae are among the most energetic events in the universe and can outshine entire galaxies for a brief period.

About 4.6 billion years ago, in a quiet corner of the Milky Way, a familiar figure in our solar system emerged: our Sun. “Eventually, gravity assembled the rocks to create planetary embryos that, in time, formed the four closest planets to the Sun.” Earth’s position in the habitable zone, often referred to as the “Goldilocks zone,” played a crucial role in fostering life. The formation of the Moon, likely resulting from a massive collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body, also played a crucial role in stabilizing Earth’s rotation and contributing to its habitability. Recent scientific revelations have cast a brilliant light on these formative epochs. Meanwhile, closer to home, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has made waves with its groundbreaking return of asteroid Bennu samples. Analysis of these celestial treasures has revealed a bounty of carbon and water, crucial ingredients that may hold the key to understanding Earth’s ancient past and the origins of life itself.