In the sixth edition of the Spectrum of Science, we focus on the origin of life: from the first organic compounds through the age of dinosaurs to the rise of mammals. You will learn about the fundamental conditions necessary for life to emerge at all - the right distance from the sun, an atmosphere, and the presence of water. Plate tectonics, ice ages, and asteroid impacts shaped the early environment in which numerous chemical reactions eventually led to the formation of organic molecules and, subsequently, to the first living cells. Join us as we explore this initial phase of the evolution of life and look forward to the new edition.