"Uncovering the Origins of Life: Exploring Canada's Shallow Soda Lakes"
Scientists from the University of Washington have discovered a shallow "soda lake" in western Canada that could resemble Darwin's "warm little ponds," where life on Earth may have originated. This lake, called Last Chance Lake, has high levels of dissolved carbonates, sodium, and phosphates, which could provide a solution to the "phosphate problem" in theories of the emergence of life on Earth. The team's research suggests that soda lakes could be common environments for the emergence of life not only on Earth but also on other planets and exoplanets. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment.