Prebiotic Chemistry - From Hydrogen Cyanide to the Origins of Life

Explore a comprehensive lecture from the 2023 Astrobiology Introductory Course that delves into the fundamentals of prebiotic chemistry, delivered by chemist David Russell. Learn about the origins of life on Earth through an examination of hydrogen cyanide's role, experimental apparatus used in research, and key chemical processes that may have led to life's emergence. Part of the Rencontres Exobiologiques pour Doctorants program, this English-language presentation offers valuable interdisciplinary insights for PhD students and young scientists in astronomy, geology, chemistry, biology, and history/philosophy of sciences who seek to understand life's origins and potential distribution throughout the universe.