GoodTaste
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- Feb 19, 2016
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Billions of years ago, before there were beasts, bacteria or any living organism, there were RNAs. These molecules were probably swirling around with amino acids and other rudimentary biomolecules, merging and diverging, on an otherwise lifeless crucible of a planet.
Source: Nature How did life begin? One key ingredient is coming into view
It seems to me that the "on" here should have been "in". The definition of it is :"a pot in which substances are heated to high temperatures, metals are melted, etc.". And even if you adopt another definition "a place or situation in which people or ideas are tested severely, often creating sth new or exciting in the process".
That is, "in which" is natural while "on which" is odd and wrong. But I am not absolutely sure.
Should "on an otherwise lifeless crucible" be "in an otherwise lifeless crucible" there?
Source: Nature How did life begin? One key ingredient is coming into view
It seems to me that the "on" here should have been "in". The definition of it is :"a pot in which substances are heated to high temperatures, metals are melted, etc.". And even if you adopt another definition "a place or situation in which people or ideas are tested severely, often creating sth new or exciting in the process".
That is, "in which" is natural while "on which" is odd and wrong. But I am not absolutely sure.
Should "on an otherwise lifeless crucible" be "in an otherwise lifeless crucible" there?