Inevitability of abiogenesis

Establish whether abiogenesis is inevitable rather than merely consistent with thermodynamic principles, by proving or refuting inevitability under realistic prebiotic conditions.

Background

In weighing abiotic emergence against hypotheses like directed panspermia, the paper argues that abiogenesis remains consistent with thermodynamics but emphasizes the lack of a proof of inevitability. This reflects a broader epistemic gap between feasibility arguments and rigorous inevitability claims.

A resolution would clarify whether life’s emergence follows from general physical constraints or is contingent on rare circumstances, shaping expectations for life elsewhere.