Here’s the latest theory about the beginnings of life on the planet:
The confined spaces between mica layers could have provided the isolation needed for Darwinian evolution, Hansma said, meaning that like Darwin’s famous Galapagos finches, pre-living groups of molecules would have had a secluded environmental niche in which to adapt and specialize. What’s more, the expansion, contraction and movements of the mica sheets caused by temperature changes and ocean currents would have helped rearrange the corralled molecules and trigger the formation of bonds between and among them as required for life to originate.
That sounds about as plausible as Mr. Garrett’s (slight language warning):
