Study discovered that tiny electrical sparks, called microlightning, form when water droplets collide. These can create organic molecules.

But real lightning would have struck infrequently—and mostly in open ocean, where organic compounds would have quickly dispersed. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing.

In a nutshell Water droplets create “microlightning” when they split, producing electrical discharges without any external power source These tiny electrical sparks can transform simple gases into complex organic molecules—including amino acids and RNA components—in just microseconds Since water sprays are far more common than lightning strikes,

Experiments show that those small electrical charges can trigger the chemical reactions necessary to form organic molecules.

We may be starting to get a grasp on what kick-started life on Earth – and it could help us search for it on other planets