The Grayness of the Origin of Life
I find it fascinating that abiotic chemical&#x2F;physical cycles are considered an integral part of early life (e.g. if your nutrient transport is environmental osmosis&#x2F;tides&#x2F;whatever, you&#x27;re still alive but the larger environment is an integral part of your biochemistry).<p>From that perspective the freshwater cycle is still a major component of biochemistry (bulk ion transport) on Earth, despite arguably being a physical state change and not chemistry per se.<p>The Sun provides photons that most cells need in order to live but Desulforudis audaxviator have decoupled themselves from that source of energy.  In theory they could outlast the solar system or hitch a ride on a rogue planet.