Canada's Last Chance Lake Offers Clues To Earth's Early Evolution: Study

Scientists have long grappled with the elusive question of life’s origin, with theories ranging from oceanic beginnings to volcanic landscapes. A recent study published in the journal Nature proposes a novel perspective, suggesting that when life first emerged on Earth approximately four billion years ago, it might have resembled a volcanic setting rather than an aquatic environment. This theory is based on research conducted by David Catling and his colleagues, who point to signs of life found in Last Chance Lake, situated on a volcanic plateau in British Columbia, Canada.

Last Chance Lake, devoid of typical flora and fauna, drew the attention of researchers due to its shallow, salty waters. The team, prompted by an unpublished thesis from the 1990s highlighting high phosphate levels in the lake, hypothesised that similar carbonate-rich lakes in ancient India could have been potential cradles of life. Phosphate, a critical component of biological molecules containing phosphorus, such as RNA, DNA and ATP, plays a fundamental role in life’s sustenance. The presence of dolomite, another mineral facilitating phosphorus accumulation, further supports this hypothesis.

Sebastian Haas, a postdoctoral researcher specialising in microbiology and chemistry of aquatic environments at the University of Washington, discussed the research with the Nature Journal. He said that the Last Chance Lake’s exceptionally high phosphate levels surpassed those typically observed in oceans and lakes by over a thousandfold. Haas, part of the research team that visited Last Chance Lake between 2021 and 2022 to collect and analyse water and sediment samples, noted that although the lake itself is less than 10,000 years old, its geological characteristics suggest a potential link to ancient environments conducive to life’s emergence.

Haas showed the significance of volcanic rocks, essential for forming soda lakes like Last Chance Lake, which may have been prevalent on Earth’s early land masses billions of years ago. The study sheds new light on the possible conditions under which life originated, challenging traditional assumptions about aquatic origins. By examining extreme environments like Last Chance Lake, researchers aim to unravel the mysteries surrounding life’s beginnings on Earth.