New Source of ATP Precursor Found in Hydrothermal Vents

Biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf discovered that phosphite and palladium, naturally occurring in hydrothermal vents, can act as an inorganic precursor of ATP, potentially explaining the energy source for early life.

Why it matters. This finding could provide insights into the origins of life and the role of hydrothermal vents in the emergence of metabolic processes.