The scientists integrated chemical models with laboratory experiments to reveal that natural processes can in theory focus phosphate in these lakes to levels up to 1 million times greater than in typical waters.Last Chance Lake: A Natural LaboratoryFor the new study, the group set out to study such an environment on Earth. The shallow lake satisfies the requirements for a soda lake: a lake above volcanic rock (in this case, basalt) integrated with a dry, windy environment that vaporizes incoming water to keep water levels low and concentrates dissolved substances within the lake.Implications for Life on Other PlanetsAnalysis published in the new paper suggests soda lakes are a strong candidate for the development of life on Earth. They also could be a candidate for life on other planets.This panoramic view shows Last Chance Lake in western Canada in November 2021, when the lake has shrunk into lots of smaller swimming pools and ice has actually formed on top of each pool.”On all 3 gos to, the team gathered samples of water, lake sediment, and salt crust to understand the lakes chemistry.In most lakes, the dissolved phosphate rapidly combines with calcium to form calcium phosphate, the insoluble material that makes up our tooth enamel. When calcium turns into dolomite and does not stay in the water, the phosphate does not have a bonding partner– and so its concentration rises.Conclusion and Future Research Directions”This study includes to growing evidence that evaporative soda lakes are environments satisfying the requirements for origin-of-life chemistry by accumulating key ingredients at high concentrations,” Catling said.The study also compared Last Chance Lake with Goodenough Lake, an approximately 3-foot-deep lake with clearer water and different chemistry simply a two-minute walk away, to discover what makes Last Chance Lake special.
The shallow lake meets the requirements for a soda lake: a lake above volcanic rock (in this case, basalt) integrated with a dry, windy environment that vaporizes incoming water to keep water levels low and concentrates liquified substances within the lake.Implications for Life on Other PlanetsAnalysis released in the brand-new paper suggests soda lakes are a strong prospect for the introduction of life on Earth.”On all three sees, the group gathered samples of water, lake sediment, and salt crust to comprehend the lakes chemistry.In most lakes, the liquified phosphate quickly combines with calcium to form calcium phosphate, the insoluble product that makes up our tooth enamel. When calcium turns into dolomite and does not remain in the water, the phosphate lacks a bonding partner– and so its concentration rises.Conclusion and Future Research Directions”This research study includes to growing evidence that evaporative soda lakes are environments fulfilling the requirements for origin-of-life chemistry by accumulating key ingredients at high concentrations,” Catling said.The study also compared Last Chance Lake with Goodenough Lake, an approximately 3-foot-deep lake with clearer water and various chemistry just a two-minute walk away, to discover what makes Last Chance Lake special.
