Origins of Life
How did the complex molecules required for life arise from the simple elements forged in stars? Our research suggests that this process is not merely a series of random accidents, but follows a robust, universal mathematical law.
By analyzing the mass distributions of molecules in the Universe—from the famous Murchison meteorite to interstellar clouds—we have identified two distinct phases of growth. Small molecules grow via random diffusion, adding atoms one by one. However, once a critical "Frontier" mass is reached, a preferential attachment process takes over. In this "rich-get-richer" regime, larger molecules grow disproportionately faster, rapidly increasing complexity.
Dating the Building Blocks of Life
Using this model, we can reconstruct the timeline of chemical history. We estimate that chemical evolution began approximately 12.8 billion years ago, shortly after the first generation of stars.
Our theory accurately predicts the emergence time of amino acids in the Miller-Urey experiment (a few days) by scaling the reaction rates from the vast distances of intergalactic space. It demonstrates that the laws governing the origins of life are consistent from the test tube to the galaxy.
The Molecular Inventory
We can now estimate the chemical diversity of the cosmos. At the time Earth was formed, the universe contained approximately 1.6 million distinct molecular compositions. In contrast, the sparser interstellar space contains only about 719 species.
This work suggests that the main ingredients of life—amino acids, nucleotides, and other key molecules—came into existence very early, billions of years before life itself appeared on Earth. The stage was set long ago.
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