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During the years that followed countless experiments along the same lines were carried out under different conditions. Finally twelve amino acids were produced and now no one doubts that the amino acids necessary for life can originate from the primitive atmosphere. Other scientists used nitrogen instead of ammonia, formaldehyde or even carbon dioxide instead of methane. Miller's electrical discharges were replaced by supersonic waves or ordinary light waves concentrated into one beam. There was no change in the results! All the different primitive atmospheres, none of which contained a trace of organic life, produced amino acids and nitrogen-free organic carbonic acids every time. In some experiments the specially treated atmosphere even produced sugar. Electrodes causing discharges Sphere filled with methane, ammonia and steam Returning drops of water Figure 1 Figure 1 Ever since man has been able to think, he has tried to evaluate everything around him in terms of polarity: light versus dark, heat versus cold, life against death. The habit of describing all living matter as ‘organic’ and all inanimate matter as ‘inorganic’ also falls into the broad field of this evaluation by polarities. But just as there are many intermediate stages between all extreme designations, it has long been impossible to draw a rigid boundary line between organic and inorganic chemistry. When our planet began to cool off, what we call the ‘primitive atmosphere' was formed from the light matter whose gas molecules were swirling about in confusion. It consisted mainly of those ingredients experiment complicated organic combinations had originated from inorganic matter. What are we to make of this phenomenon?