Instagram: Solar Storms May Have Been Key to Life on Earth

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Solar storms may have started life on Earth.

Earth is the perfect distance from the sun for life to develop.

But it wasn’t the temperature of the sun that seeded life.

Four billion years ago, our young sun was only 70% of the brightness it is today.

At this level of brightness, Earth should have been an icy ball.

So how did Earth warm up?

New NASA research suggests powerful storms from our young sun may have been central to warming Earth.

Explosions spew large amounts of energy towards Earth, which may have helped create nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Energy may have also helped form RNA and DNA, the building blocks of life.

Understanding how Earth evolved will help scientists determine what kind of planets could be hospitable for life.