Humans may owe life to pumice

Pumice, the rock used remove dry skin from feet, could have been responsible for the birth of life on Earth, scientists have claimed.

It is commonly known for its ability to remove dry skin from feet, but pumice stone may have had a far more important role in our lives than we realise.

Scientists claim the rock, which is produced as volcanic gases bubble through lava as it solidifies, may have been responsible for the birth of life on Earth more than 3.5 billion years ago.

In a surprising new theory for how life evolved our planet, palaeobiologists believe the tiny pores in the volcanic rock provided the perfect environment for the first living cells to develop.

They say they have found evidence that the essential cocktail of chemicals that make up all organisms on Earth can accumulated inside the pumice pores while other chemicals commonly found there could have kick started biological reactions in the presence of ultraviolet light.

Pumice is also well known for its ability to float and massive rafts of the rock have washed up on shorelines around the world decades after major volcanic eruptions.

via Humans may owe more than smooth feet to pumice, claim scientists - Telegraph.