What role did hydrothermal vents play in early catalysis?
Hydrothermal vents at the ocean floor were crucial sites for catalytic reactions on early Earth. These vents emitted hot, mineral-rich water that interacted with cold ocean water, creating unique chemical gradients. The minerals present in these environments, such as silicates and metal sulfides, served as catalysts for the synthesis of organic molecules, including amino acids and nucleotides.
