Science glossary film: Primeval soup

Or primordial soup, refers to the medium in which the first life on Earth may have originated. Around 4 billion years ago, the early oceans were hot, with high levels of compounds such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. These ingredients could have combined with gases in the primitive atmosphere, such as methane and hydrogen, to form the simple organic molecules on which the first life on Earth was based.

Around 4 billion years ago, the early oceans were hot, with high levels of compounds such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. These ingredients could have combined with gases in the primitive atmosphere, such as methane and hydrogen, to form the simple organic molecules on which the first life on Earth was based.