Life originated in oceans from "summary" of A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition by Bill Bryson
In the deep past, conditions on Earth were very different from what they are today. The planet was a seething, turbulent place, raked by intense storms and bombarded by asteroids. The air was filled with noxious gases like ammonia and methane. The land, such as it was, was largely barren and lifeless. But there was one place where conditions were just right for life to emerge and flourish: the oceans. The oceans covered the vast majority of the planet's surface, providing a stable and nurturing environment for the first primitive life forms to take root. The waters were rich in dissolved minerals and nutrients, and the gentle ebb and flow of the tides helped to distribute these essential building blocks of life throughout the oceans. Over millions of years, simple molecules began to combine and recombine in the primordial soup of the oceans, forming ever more complex structures. Eventually, these structures gave rise to the first single-celled organisms, tiny creatures that could replicate and evolve. These early life forms were astonishingly resilient, able to survive in the most extreme conditions and adapt to almost any environment. As life spread and diversified, the oceans became teeming with a vast array of different organisms, from simple bacteria to complex multicellular creatures. The oceans were a crucible of evolution, driving the development of new and ever more sophisticated life forms. And as these creatures evolved and adapted to their watery world, they began to explore new environments, eventually making the leap from sea to land. But the oceans remained the cradle of life, the place where it all began. Even today, the oceans are home to a staggering variety of life forms, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales. And as we continue to explore and study these vast and mysterious waters, we are constantly uncovering new clues about the origins of life on Earth. Life originated in the oceans, and it is there that we can still see its most ancient and enduring forms.
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