Nano Technology News
EARLY EARTH
Nanostructures found in deep ocean vents could shed light on life's origins
illustration only
Nanostructures found in deep ocean vents could shed light on life's origins
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 26, 2024

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) and the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have uncovered inorganic nanostructures around deep-ocean hydrothermal vents that closely resemble key molecules involved in life processes. These self-organized nanostructures function as selective ion channels, generating energy that can be captured as electricity. The findings, published on Sep. 25 in 'Nature Communications', hold significant implications for our understanding of the origins of life and may influence advancements in industrial blue-energy harvesting.

Hydrothermal vents are considered potential sites for life's origin due to their stable, energy-rich environments filled with essential minerals. These vents form when seawater penetrates deep into the Earth's crust, is heated by magma, and rises to the surface, releasing dissolved minerals that form precipitates when meeting cold ocean water.

The RIKEN CSRS team, studying serpentinite-hosted hydrothermal vents, found that the mineral precipitates around these vents have complex layered structures made of metal oxides, hydroxides, and carbonates. Lead researcher Ryuhei Nakamura commented, "Unexpectedly, we discovered that osmotic energy conversion, a vital function in modern plant, animal, and microbial life, can occur abiotically in a geological environment."

The study focused on samples from the Shinkai Seep Field, located in the Pacific's Mariana Trench, at a depth of 5743 meters. A key finding involved an 84-cm brucite sample where crystals were organized into continuous columns that acted as nano-channels for vent fluid. These structures exhibited electrically charged surfaces, with charge direction varying across the surface - indicating a natural occurrence of osmotic energy conversion.

By testing the samples, the researchers confirmed that the nanopores in the brucite structures could act as selective ion channels, with varying behavior depending on the chemical composition of the surface. For example, carbonate-coated nanopores allowed positive sodium ions to flow through, while calcium-coated nanopores permitted only negative chloride ions.

"The spontaneous formation of ion channels discovered in deep-sea hydrothermal vents has direct implications for the origin of life on Earth and beyond," Nakamura explained. This finding may also inform technological advancements in osmotic energy conversion, potentially aiding engineers in developing more efficient methods for generating electrical energy through blue-energy harvesting.

Research Report:Osmotic energy conversion in serpentinite-hosted deep-sea hydrothermal vents

Related Links
The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)
Explore The Early Earth at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EARLY EARTH
Study highlights Earth's temps have shifted widely over 485M years as CO2 changes
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 20, 2024
A recent study published in 'Science' reveals that Earth's global mean surface temperature has fluctuated significantly over the past 485 million years, far more than previously believed. The study presents a comprehensive temperature curve of the Phanerozoic Eon, a geological period characterized by the diversification of life and numerous mass extinctions. The findings confirm that Earth's temperature is closely tied to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmo ... read more

EARLY EARTH
German cubesat to hitch a ride on Artemis II lunar mission

Sierra Space advances lunar oxygen extraction technology for long-term habitation

Lunar X-ray images and farside soil analysis enhance understanding of Moon

Skycorp's ARMAS sensor to gather radiation data from Lunar South Pole

EARLY EARTH
Xi emphasizes China's drive to lead in space exploration

China launches Yaogan 43B remote-sensing satellites from Xichang

Shenzhou-18 Crew Tests Fire Alarms and Conducts Medical Procedures in Space

Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

EARLY EARTH
Police arrest Australian 'distributor' of Ghost crime app

'Misinformation megaphone': Musk stokes tension before US election

Two jailed in Poland for spying for Russia

China slams 'lies and smears' after Canadian ex-diplomat alleges torture

EARLY EARTH
German cubesat to hitch a ride on Artemis II lunar mission

Sierra Space advances lunar oxygen extraction technology for long-term habitation

Lunar X-ray images and farside soil analysis enhance understanding of Moon

Skycorp's ARMAS sensor to gather radiation data from Lunar South Pole

EARLY EARTH
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

EARLY EARTH
Satellite data fusion enhances early detection of convective clouds

Using satellite data to expand understanding of river flow dynamics

Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?

Planet launches AI-powered global forest carbon monitoring system

EARLY EARTH
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

EARLY EARTH
Microsoft beefs-up its AI assistant with voice, vision

IBM and NASA unveil open-source AI model for climate and weather applications

Scania and Fortescue collaborate on autonomous mining road train development

OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati leaving company

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.