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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Conjecture and hypothesis: The importance of reality checks
Contributor:
Deamer, David
Published:
Beilstein Institut, 2017
Published in:
Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, 13 (2017), Seite 620-624
Language:
English
DOI:
10.3762/bjoc.13.60
ISSN:
1860-5397
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
In origins of life research, it is important to understand the difference between conjecture and hypothesis. This commentary explores the difference and recommends alternative hypotheses as a way to advance our understanding of how life can begin on the Earth and other habitable planets. As an example of how this approach can be used, two conditions have been proposed for sites conducive to the origin of life: hydrothermal vents in salty seawater, and fresh water hydrothermal fields associated with volcanic landmasses. These are considered as alternative hypotheses and the accumulating weight of evidence for each site is described and analyzed.