Life

Within the first 50 million years of Earth’s formation the required elements for life existed. Volcanic emissions containing water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, potassium and sulfur easily reacted with rocks and sea water to create almost all of life’s molecules. In the mid-oceanic ridges, hydrothermal vents where the Earth’s tectonic plates drifted apart, hot water loaded with dissolved minerals and volcanic gases, necessary for life, arose. There, life forms perhaps combined hydrogen with sulfur to form hydrogen sulfide for its energy needs. Sheltered from the Late Heavy Bombardment, it was an ideal location for initiating life. An alternative theory postulates, however, that organic molecules found on asteroids may have seeded early life.