One Tiny Chemical Difference in RNA Could Help Explain the Origins of Life
2nd September 2026
Or maybe not.
One of the biggest puzzles in origin of life research comes before the first cells even existed: How could RNA molecules gather in one place, interact, and help produce early life without cellular compartments to hold them together?
Without those boundaries, fragile RNA molecules would have struggled to encounter one another often enough in the primordial soup, while also surviving the hot and acidic conditions thought to characterize early Earth.
One possible solution is RNA’s ability to collect into liquid-like droplets known as condensates. These structures have no membrane, but they could have concentrated RNA molecules in small spaces, giving them more opportunities to interact while potentially offering some protection from harsh surroundings.