In cosmological terms, we exist as an exception to the rule. The rule (as far as we know as I’m writing this at least), is their is no life beyond Earth. But somehow, billions of years ago, by shear dumb luck, soupy primordial proteins assembled amidst the backdrop of chaos. They wiggled themselves into a fortressed heap of snot and somehow managed to morph into complex multi-cellular systems. All of this, happening slowly over epochs of time, across an ever-changing and unfamiliar landscape — on a patch of dirt and water whirling through icy-cold space.
It’s amazing stuff. We take it for granted so often. We really are lucky to be here. This morning as I was commuting to work, I was reminded of just how crazy it is we’re here — like doing things, working and living under one roof on this humid lump of soil. Needless to say, I went down the rabbit-hole on the web and found some great reading about Abiogenesis, life on Earth and other topics I wanted to share:
- First support for a Physics theory of life [Quanta Magazine]
- How did life become complex, and could it happen beyond Earth, [AstroBiology Magazine]
- A simpler origin for life, [Scientific American]
- Thermodynamic dissipation theory for the origin of life, [PDF]
- Great Oxygenation Event [Wikipedia]
- Mitochondrial Eve [Wikipedia]
Even further reading:
- A Nihilists Guide to Meaning [Melting Asphalt]
- Empty half the Earth of its humans. It’s the only way to save the planet. [The Guardian]