Chinese scientists have found abiotic organic compounds in the ocean crust, shedding light on deep-sea carbon cycles and life’s origins, with implications for finding life on other planets.
A Chinese research team has discovered abiotic organic compounds in the oceanic crust of the Southwest Indian Ridge and proposed a molecular mechanism for organic condensation.
This discovery builds on their earlier identification of nanoscale abiotic organic matter in mantle rocks from the Yap Trench in 2021. It marks a significant advancement in our understanding of deep-sea carbon cycling and the origins of life, shedding light on key pathways for abiotic organic synthesis in nature.
The team’s findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Dr. Nan Jingbo from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) is the first author of the paper, with Dr. Peng Xiaotong from the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences serving as the corresponding author.
