First Steps Are Toughest? Not When It Comes to the Origin of Life

The first step is always the hardest, and therefore in a sense the most important in getting where you want to go. It's a popular notion that holds true in many contexts -- for example, just picking up the phone to make a call you're nervous about, yes that can be difficult. But it's a different matter when it comes to the mystery of the origin of life.

Obtaining "building blocks" of life through an unguided natural process is one thing. Putting them together the right way, composing biolog...