Uncovering the Methane-Making Reaction that Heated Early Earth
A team of scientists conducted experiments simulating early Earth conditions and found that methane could have formed in water before the existence of life. The researchers heated vials of water containing "starter chemicals" thought to be present on early Earth and detected varying amounts of methane in the vapor produced. These findings could help explain the "faint young sun" paradox, where early Earth was warmer than expected given the sun's lower heat output. The study suggests that methane production in water, in addition to hydrothermal vents, may have contributed to the warming of early Earth and could impact the search for life on other planets.