Phosphorus which went into building the first DNA and RNA molecules is thought to come from the schreibersite which is found in a meteorite. Due to a new analysis of lightning-forged minerals, Sandra Piazolo suspects lightning may be the cause that produced so much schreibersite. Piazolo analyzed fulgurite, which was formed by a lightning strike, and found that 0.4 % of the fulgurite is schreibersite. Piazolo and her team took into account that 3.5 billion years ago the atmosphere was rich in carbon dioxide which could explain the lightning occurrence that created 110 kg of phosphorus-containing minerals. Also considering the abundance of meteor showers 4.5 billion years ago either could be the cause of phosphorus.
Temming, M. (2021, March 16). Phosphorus for earth's earliest life may have been forged by lightning. Retrieved May 29, 2021, from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/phosphorus-earth-earliest-life-forged-lightning-chemistry
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