The origin of life was a puzzle: the ingredients were known, but not how they first combined. Researchers have shown how simple, even toxic, chemicals could combine under early-Earth conditions to form the building blocks of RNA—the molecule that stores information and drives reactions in every living cell. Recreating these steps doesn’t just answer a scientific mystery; it invites us to reflect on how this knowledge might change the way we understand life and imagine its future. Could understanding life’s origins change not only how we see the past, but how we choose the future?
Scientists are uncovering how life’s first building blocks could have assembled on early Earth. This breakthrough invites us to imagine what it means to recreate life’s beginnings—and what it might change about how we see the future.
Why Participate?
As scientists present their breakthrough ideas on the main stage of the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, we invite the audience to explore the societal and ethical dimensions of their work, both now and in the future.
Who can Participate
Anyone who is engaged and interested in the topic. We invite both guests of the Falling Walls Science Summit, as well as interested participants who cannot attend the Summit live. Sign up with your email and we'll include you in a lottery to win a 4-day Science Summit ticket!
Challenge Host
The Falling Walls Science Summit is the international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral forum for global science leaders. Since 2009, the Falling Walls Science Summit has united the world’s greatest minds to break down barriers in science and innovation. We bring together global science leaders, business pioneers, and public sector visionaries to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and shape the future of the international innovation system—creating meaningful impact for humanity.
Challenge Context
This challenge is organised in the context of the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025. There will be a session at the Summit where this topic will be discussed in more detail, and answers gathered through this future canvas will be incorporated.
278 Ratings
Origins of Life May Revolutionize Technology
- Understanding life's origins could revolutionize biotechnology, impacting medicine and climate repair efforts.
- Scientific advancements might include self-healing materials and efficient energy systems, transforming multiple industries.
- Exploring life's genesis may redefine life understanding and prompt societal paradigm shifts.
In the future, understanding life's origins could revolutionize biotechnology and synthetic life. This might allow us to design new biological forms that could significantly impact fields like medicine and climate repair. By harnessing these advancements, we could tackle contemporary ecological challenges more effectively, although true sustainability might require confronting established power structures.
Delving into how life began could inspire groundbreaking scientific ideas, potentially leading to the creation of materials that mimic natural processes. These innovations might include self-healing materials and energy systems with unparalleled efficiency, transforming industries and everyday life. However, stringent regulations could be necessary to ensure that such creations are not exploited.
The exploration of life's genesis might also expand our cosmic perspectives. By studying potential life forms on other planets, we could redefine our understanding of life itself. This broader understanding might prompt paradigm shifts in our views and priorities, emphasizing what is essential.
The reconstruction of life’s origins could grant us unprecedented control over biological pathways, enabling the development of enhanced disease control methods, intelligent humans, and even new species. Such advancements could profoundly impact every facet of society, offering limitless possibilities for the future.
Scientific Discoveries Transform Worldview
- Discoveries in extraterrestrial life could reshape understanding of life's origins and evolution.
- Society may evolve with creative and technological harmony, prioritizing human well-being over markets.
- Decline in religious explanations as scientific understanding provides new answers to existential questions.
In the future, the quest for extraterrestrial life could be revolutionized by groundbreaking discoveries that reshape our understanding of life's origins. These advancements might provide us with solid scientific evidence, dispelling outdated pseudoscientific beliefs about Earth's creation and the process of evolution. This shift in knowledge could transform the framework within which we search for life beyond our planet.
Simultaneously, society could evolve towards a landscape where human creativity and technological advancement are harmoniously intertwined, fostering a truly democratic environment. In this envisioned world, policies could prioritize the well-being of humanity over the interests of financial markets, creating a balance between people and nature. The fusion of innovation and sustainability could inspire deeper connections and stimulate imagination, leading to more thoughtful interactions and societal growth.
As these changes unfold, there might be a gradual decline in the reliance on religious explanations for existential questions. As scientific understanding deepens and becomes more accessible, people could increasingly find answers in these new truths, allowing for a cultural shift that embraces empirical discovery over traditional religious narratives, potentially altering the very fabric of how individuals perceive their existence and purpose.
Humanity to Redefine Identity Cosmos-wide
- Civilization on new planets might arise, reshaping societal understandings and extending human reach.
- Gender roles and traditional structures could evolve, promoting equitable identity and contribution.
- Abandoning religious narratives may transform values, fostering mutual respect and cosmic destiny shaping.
In a future where humanity might extend its reach beyond Earth, civilisations could potentially arise on other planets, reshaping our understanding of society. The absence of concern over species extinction might suggest a shift in priorities, possibly due to technological advances or a greater focus on preserving life through new means. With these changes, societal expectations around gender roles could undergo a significant redefinition. Traditional roles of mothers and fathers might evolve, aligning with a more equitable understanding of identity and contribution.
Simultaneously, the abandonment of religious beliefs regarding the origin of life could transform values and belief systems. This transformation might lead to a more profound exploration of life's beginnings, allowing humanity to focus on what truly matters. Such understanding could revolutionize human interactions, minimizing judgment and trauma while opening paths to mutual respect and understanding.
The dismantling of longstanding religious narratives might also pave the way for future possibilities, where humans could consider themselves creators of life or worlds. This potential reimagining of existence, informed by deeper insights into our origins, might herald an era where humanity actively shapes its destiny across the cosmos.