Life may not have begun with a dramatic lightning strike into the ocean but from many smaller "microlightning" exchanges among water droplets from crashing waterfalls or breaking waves.

We may be starting to get a grasp on what kick-started life on Earth – and it could help us search for it on other planets

T here are multiple theories that explain the origin of life on Earth, but one of the most disputed ones was proposed in 1953 when two scientists named Stanley Miller and Harold U

But real lightning would have struck infrequently—and mostly in open ocean, where organic compounds would have quickly dispersed. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing.