Did life on Earth begin in deep sea vents?

[Eldorado]

"Charles Darwin is credited with the idea that life on Earth evolved in shallow pools of water. Now, a new study suggests that instead of life originating in a "warm little pond," it may have come from deep-sea hydrothermal vents — an idea that could hold significance for extraterrestrial life.

"The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggests that these deep-sea environments had the heat and alkalinity to start life.

""There are multiple competing theories as to where and how life started," said the study's lead author, University College London professor Nick Lane, in a statement. "Underwater hydrothermal vents are among most promising locations for life's beginnings — our findings now add weight to that theory with solid experimental evidence.""

Full monty at Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/science/charles-darwin-wrong-life-started-on-earth

And at Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104112437.htm

[Stiff]

Panspermia's still on the table though, right?

[Essan]

10 minutes ago, Stiff said:

Panspermia's still on the table though, right?

Panspermia can only take place after life has evolved.  Maybe this is how/where it evolved first of all?

 

[Stiff]

1 hour ago, Essan said:

Panspermia can only take place after life has evolved.  Maybe this is how/where it evolved first of all?

 

That's exactly what I mean. Life here could have been deposited in microorganismic (is that a word?) form by comets, asteroids, meteors etc from elsewhere in the Universe. Then we happen to have the exact ingredients for that organism to evolve.

Obviously, it may just as well have started here but they're both food for thought.