Weird Molecular Science

Meghan Walsh writes for Ozy about a young prof who speculates about exactly how life begins from non-life. Think of him as something like Darwin 2.0. Jeremy England thinks it may be a normal process, perhaps not even particularly rare.

Under the right conditions, a random group of atoms will self-organize, unbidden, to more effectively use energy. Over time and with just the right amount of, say, sunlight, a cluster of atoms could come remarkably close to what we call life. In fact, here’s a thought: Some things we consider inanimate actually may already be “alive.” It all depends on how we define life.

Chew on that off-the-wall thought.