Before life existed on Earth, there was just matter, inorganic dead "stuff." How improbable is it that life arose? And -- could it use a different type of chemistry? Using an elegant definition of life (anything that can evolve), chemist Lee Cronin is exploring this question by attempting to create a fully inorganic cell using a "Lego kit" of inorganic molecules -- no carbon -- that can assemble, replicate and compete.

Lee Cronin: Making matter come alive

Making matter come alive

Exploring the frontier of inorganic life, the quest to animate matter could redefine our understanding of biology and evolution.

From crystal gardens to self-replicating cells, the journey toward inorganic biology blurs the line between the animate and inanimate.

Imagining a universe where evolution applies universally, not just to carbon-based life, expanding our search for life beyond Earth.