Science

Hydrothermal vents supply a geochemical precursor of ATP that could have powered early life

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Briefings

Researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf discovered that phosphite and palladium, found in H2-producing hydrothermal vents, serve as an inorganic precursor to ATP. This geochemical energy source likely drove primordial chemical reactions on the early Earth, potentially powering the chemical origin of life. The findings were published in The FEBS Journal on October 6, 2026, identifying a new mechanism for early metabolism.

Key points

• Phosphite and palladium are identified as an inorganic precursor to ATP in hydrothermal vents.

Context and limitations

The study is based on findings published in The FEBS Journal, with data limited to the specific conditions of H2-producing hydrothermal vents and the substances naturally occurring there.

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