PURPOSE: To show that the precusors for life, Amino Acids, are produced as a product of lightning acting on the primordial soup.
DESCRIPTION: Miller-Urey aparatus, as shown. Consists of an upper chamber with two electrodes, tube connecting the upper chamber to a lower chamber, a valve for filling the chambers with gases, and a cooling jacket.
First, connect a vacuum pump to the valve and remove all the air. Add 1/3 atm CO2 or CO, 1/3 atm methane, and 1/3 atm ammonia. The total presure of the mixture of all three gases is 1 atm. Add 1 cup water. Close off the valve. Heat it on the bottom to boiling. The boiling will fill the upper bulb with steam. Apply a tesla coil to the two electrodes at the top bulb. Inject cooling water into the cooling jacket to condense the vapor products.
After 1 hour operation the water will turn orange. The water will also have a small amount of tar build up. Let it run for two days. Empty the water and perform chromatography on the products. Up to 8 amino acids have been found.
This device was constructed by the glassblower at Brown. No documentation is available.
Miller, S., 1953, A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions: Science, v. 117, p. 528-529.
EQUIPMENT: Miller-Urey aparatus, as photographed. Note: One electtrode needs repair.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/20/2000