The Bright Side of Life

Explore the origins of life through a scientific lens in this 15-minute TEDx talk by Ana Parejo Vidal at TEDxUCSB. Delve into the past as Vidal, a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry, examines how our biology can provide insights into molecules from billions of years ago. Learn about her laboratory work investigating the hypothesis that light played a crucial role in the emergence of life. Discover how state-of-the-art spectroscopy instrumentation is being used to unravel the photochemical processes that established specific nucleobases as the building blocks of all life on Earth. Gain inspiration from Vidal's journey as a curious and open-minded scientist who has pursued research opportunities across three continents, from her hometown of Granada, Spain, to her current work at UCSB under the leadership of Professor Mattanjah de Vries.