From The University of Paris-Sorbonne [Université de Paris-Sorbonne](FR)
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5.10.23
Bas den Hond
Volcanic eruptions can generate lots of lightning. Those strikes split nitrogen molecules in the air, allowing nitrogen atoms to react with other elements to make compounds that living organisms can use. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images.
Millions of years ago, giant volcanic eruptions in what’s now Turkey and Peru each deposited millions of metric tons of nitrate on the surrounding land. That nutrient may have come from volcanic lightning, researchers reported April 24 at a meeting of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna.
The discovery adds evidence to the idea that, early in Earth’s history, volcanoes could have provided some of the materials that made it possible for life to emerge, says volcanologist Erwan Martin of Sorbonne University in Paris.
Nitrogen is an essential ingredient in biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA. It makes up about 78 percent of the atmosphere. But nitrogen molecules in the air consist of two tightly bound nitrogen atoms. Only when these atoms are separated will they react with other elements and create forms of nitrogen useful to life, such as nitrate (SN: 4/8/08).
Some microbes can tease apart the nitrogen molecules and provide “fixed nitrogen” to plants and fungi. Human chemists can do it too, creating fertilizer. But before life could start, some nonbiological process must have been at play.
Lightning is the obvious candidate, Martin says. These extremely energetic electric discharges can tear apart nitrogen atoms, which will combine with oxygen to form nitrogen oxides and eventually nitrate.
The lightning in thunderstorms, brought about by ice particles colliding and charging, separates nitrogen molecules every day, but at low rates and spread out over large areas. Volcanic plumes, in which dust particles do the colliding and charging, can provide localized lightning at staggering intensities. During one day of the 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Indonesia, for instance, there were about 400,000 discharges (SN: 12/13/22).
Even that large amount of lightning creates a relatively small amount of nitrate. But rare, huge eruptions, of the kind that happen only every 100,000 years or so, could create much more. The idea that such events could produce and deposit a lot of nitrate is not new, Martin says, but until now nobody had actually looked at the nitrogen content of volcanic deposits from these eruptions.
His group sampled outcrops in Turkey and Peru linked to 10 explosive eruptions that happened between 20 million and 1 million years ago. Their locations’ relatively dry climate helps ensure that any nitrate formed long ago, which is soluble in water, would not have all leached out by now.
The nitrate that the researchers found turns out to contain oxygen atoms with different masses, in a proportion similar to that of the three oxygen atoms that make up each molecule of ozone in the air. This shows that the nitrates were formed in the atmosphere and not by some process on the ground, the team says.
Based on their sampling, the researchers estimate that each eruption on average deposited about 60 million tons of nitrate.
Life may have begun roughly 3.7 billion years ago, long before the eruptions that Martin and colleagues studied (SN: 3/1/17). But Earth’s early years were full of such extreme volcanism. Some researchers think that lightning over volcanic islands, in particular, played a role in the emergence of life, before even the continents were fully formed. On the young Earth, Martin says, similar amounts of nitrate as those estimated in the new study could have been produced on such islands, long since submerged.
The study’s concept is interesting, says marine chemist Jeffrey Bada of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. But he thinks the researchers should have addressed the different composition of the atmosphere at the time that life first came on the scene.
“In today’s world, lightning on volcanic islands produces copious amounts of nitrogen oxides,” Bada says. “But in the early Earth, when the atmosphere had little oxygen in it, the product would have been probably ammonia.” Like nitrate, ammonia is a form of nitrogen that’s biologically usable.
But, Martin says, in a volcanic plume, there is a lot of water and other oxygen compounds coming from the magma, which could have supplied some of that oxygen. And in those early days, he says, “maybe it wasn’t nitrate but ammonia — it’s still nitrogen available for life. These are still things that need to be studied.”
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Sorbonne University [Sorbonne Université](FR) is a public research university located in Paris, France. The institution’s legacy reaches back to 1257 when Sorbonne College was established by Robert de Sorbon as one of the first universities in Europe.
Paris-Sorbonne University was one of the inheritors of the Faculty of Humanities [Faculté des lettres] of the University of Paris [also known as the Sorbonne], which ceased to exist following student protests in May 1968. The Faculty of Humanities of was the main focus of the University of Paris, and subsequently Paris-Sorbonne University was one of its main successors. It was a member of The Sorbonne University Alliance [ Sorbonne Université] (FR).
Paris-Sorbonne University enrolled about 24,000 students in 20 departments specializing in arts, humanities and languages, divided in 12 campuses throughout Paris. Seven of the campuses were situated in the historic Latin Quarter, including the historic Sorbonne university building, and three in the Marais, Malesherbes and Clignancourt respectively. In addition, the university also maintained one campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, also called Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Paris-Sorbonne University also comprised France’s prestigious communication and journalism school, Centre for Applied Literary and Scientific Studies [Celsa Sorbonne Université, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences de l’information et de la Communication] (FR), located in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine. Paris-Sorbonne University maintained about 400 international agreements.
As a successor of the faculty of humanities of the University of Paris, it was a founding member the Sorbonne University Alliance [ Sorbonne Université] (FR), an alliance with the successor of the faculty of law and economics and of the faculty of science of the The University of Paris-Sorbonne [Université de Paris-Sorbonne](FR); Paris Panthéon-Assas University [Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas] (FR) and Pierre and Marie Curie University [Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie] (FR). This group allowed Paris-Sorbonne University students to study several dual degrees in combinations. Two graduate certificates in law from Panthéon-Assas University (Sorbonne Law School) were accessible for all the student members of the Sorbonne University group.
Sorbonne University [Sorbonne Université] (FR) is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Europe and the world. It has a world-class reputation in academia and industry; as of 2021, its alumni and professors have won 33 Nobel Prizes, six Fields Medals, and one Turing Award.
In the 2021 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities, Sorbonne University ranked 35th in the world, placing it as the 4th best university in continental Europe, 3rd in Mathematics and Oceanography. In the 2023 edition of QS World University Rankings, the Sorbonne ranked 60th in the world, placing it 8th in continental Europe, 14th in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and 7th in Classics and Ancient History.
Known for its selectivity, Sorbonne University is one of the most sought after universities by students and researchers from France, Europe, and the French speaking countries. Most notably, Marie Curie, who came from Poland in 1891 and joined the faculty of sciences of the Sorbonne, was also the first woman to become a professor at the Sorbonne. Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie are considered the founders of the modern-day Faculty of Science and Engineering of Sorbonne University.
College of Sorbonne
Robert de Sorbon (1201–1274), chaplain to King Louis IX (Saint Louis), observed the difficulties experienced by poor “schoolchildren” in achieving the rank of doctor. In February 1257, he had a house (domus) officially established which he intended for a certain number of secular clergy who, living in common and without concern for their material existence, would be entirely occupied with study and teaching. This house was named the college of Sorbonne.
The old slogan of the establishment, “Sorbonne University, creators of futures since 1257”, refers to this date. The college of Sorbonne was closed along with all the other colleges of the former University of Paris in 1793.
The college of Sorbonne is located on the site of the current Sorbonne building, shared between Sorbonne University and Panthéon-Sorbonne University (Paris I) and Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris III).
The law of 28 April 1893 giving civil personality to the bodies formed by the union of several faculties of an academy and that of 10 July 1896 giving the name of university to the bodies of faculties, the new University of Paris was created in 1896 as a grouping of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Letters, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Protestant Theology (created in 1877, transformed into a free faculty in 1905) and the École supérieure de pharmacie. It was inaugurated on 19 November 1896 by its president, Félix Faure.
Splitting of the University of Paris
The Universities of Paris-Sorbonne and Pierre-et-Marie-Curie were created as a result of the university reform prepared by Edgar Faure in 1968.
At that time, the University of Paris, divided into five faculties, was split into several interdisciplinary universities. Some, including the University of Paris-Sorbonne, retained the name “Sorbonne” and premises in the historic centre of the University of Paris, which had until then been mainly devoted to the Faculties of Arts and Sciences.
The University of Paris-VI is created from the majority of the teaching and research units of the Faculty of Sciences of Paris (the others joining the universities of Paris-VII Denis Diderot (now University of Paris), Paris-Saclay University in Orsay, Paris-XII and Paris-XIII in Villetaneuse) and part of the units of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris (the others joining the universities of Paris-V René Descartes (now University of Paris), Paris-VII Denis Diderot and Paris-XIII).
Reunification of the Universities of Paris IV and Paris VI
In 2010, some of the direct successors of the faculties of the University of Paris created the Sorbonne University Alliance [ Sorbonne Université] (FR). The following universities, members of the group, decided to merge into Sorbonne University in 2018:
Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV) (1971–2017), formerly a constituent part of the faculty of humanities of the University of Paris.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI) (1971–2017), formerly a constituent part of the faculty of science and of the faculty of medicine of the University of Paris.
At the same time, the Sorbonne Universities Alliance was renamed the Sorbonne University Association; it includes the following institutions for academic cooperation:
University of Technology of Compiègne (1972– )
INSEAD
National Museum of Natural History
Centre international d’études pédagogiques (International Centre for Pedagogical Studies)
Pôle supérieur d’enseignement artistique Paris Boulogne-Billancourt
Four research institutes
As part of the reforms of French Higher Education, on 19 March 2018, the international jury called by the French Government for the “Initiative d’excellence” (IDEX) confirmed the definite win of Sorbonne University. Consequently, Sorbonne University won an endowment of 900 Mio euros with no limit of time. This is the first higher education institution in Paris region to win such an endowment. The university was established by a decree issued 21 April 2017, taking effect 1 January 2018.
Rankings and reputation
Sorbonne University is consistently ranked in the top universities in Europe and the world. The first recognition of its existence as an integrated university came in 2018, when it appeared on the CWUR World University Rankings 2018–2019 in 29th place globally and 1st place in France.
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World 35 (2021)
CWUR World 36 (2021-2022)
CWTS World 89 (2020)
QS World 72 (2022)
Reuters World 56 (2019)
THE World 80 (2020)
USNWR Global 46 (2022)
National – Overall
ARWU National 2 (2022)
CWTS National 1 (2020)
CWUR National 3 (2021-22)
QS National 3 (2021)
THE National 3 (2021)
USNWR National 1 (2022)
In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020, Sorbonne University is ranked in range 39 globally and 3rd in France.
In the Times Higher Education European Teaching Rankings 2019, Sorbonne University was ranked in 3rd place in France (after Paris-Sud University and The University of Lyon [Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1] (FR)).
In the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2019, Sorbonne University was ranked in range 51-60 globally and 2nd in France.
The 2021 QS World University Rankings ranked Sorbonne University 83rd overall in the world and 3rd in France. Individual faculties at Sorbonne University also featured in the rankings.
Before the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University, both had their own rankings in the world.
Its founding predecessor Paris-Sorbonne University was ranked 222 in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2015. By faculty, it was ranked 9 in modern languages, 36 in arts and humanities (1st in France), and 127 in social sciences and management (5th in France). By academic reputation, it was ranked 80 (2nd in France), according to the QS World University Rankings, and 2nd in overall highest international reputation of all academic institutions in France, according to the Times Higher Education 2015. In 2014 Paris-Sorbonne ranked 227 in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings, 115 for Social Sciences and Management, 33 for Arts and Humanities.
Pierre and Marie Curie University [Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie] (FR) was often ranked as the best university in France. In 2014 UPMC was ranked 35th in the world, 6th in Europe and 1st in France by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. It was ranked 4th in the world in the field of mathematics by the same study. The 2013 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 112th overall in the world and 3rd in France. In 2013, according to University Ranking by Academic Performance, Université Pierre et Marie Curie is ranked first university in France, and 44th in the world. UPMC is a member of Sorbonne University Alliance.
The Sorbonne College
Since 2014, the Sorbonne College for bachelor’s degree (« Collège des Licences de la Sorbonne ») has been coordinating the academic projects inside Sorbonne University and with Paris Panthéon-Assas University [Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas] (FR), the law school of the Sorbonne University Group which has not merged into the Sorbonne University and remained independent. It also offers cross-institutional academic courses in many fields, allowing students to graduate from both institutions. For example, some cross-institutional bachelor’s degrees (« double licences ») are proposed to students in :
Science and History (Sorbonne)
Science and Musicology (Sorbonne)
Science and Philosophy (Sorbonne)
Science and Chinese (Sorbonne)
Science and German (Sorbonne)
Law and History (Panthéon-Assas / Sorbonne)
Law and Art History (Panthéon-Assas / Sorbonne)
Law and Science (Panthéon-Assas / Sorbonne)
History and Media (Sorbonne / Panthéon-Assas)[32]
As it is the case in the Anglo-American university system, Sorbonne University proposes a major-minor system, that is currently being deployed at the university.
Sorbonne University, in partnership with INSEAD The Business School for the World [INSEAD L’école de commerce pour le monde] (FR), also offers all of its alumni and PhD students a professionalizing course in business management to complete their curriculum.
The Doctoral College
Since 2010, every PhD student is being delivered an honorary diploma labeled Sorbonne University. This diploma highlights and gathers the skills of the doctors and researchers from the institutions that form Sorbonne University.
The Sorbonne Doctoral College, created in 2013, coordinates the activities of the 26 doctoral schools. Since 2014, it has developed cross-disciplinary PhDs between the different members of the Sorbonne University Alliance.
Research
To strengthen the influence of its research infrastructures on the international scale, Sorbonne University has developed several research programs aiming at reinforcing or exploring new fields of study. This innovative cross-disciplinary approach was embodied with the creation of four new academic positions gathering several establishments of the group:
A Department of Digital Humanities, exploring the use of digital technologies in the social science
A Department of Polychromatic Studies of Societies, associating architecture, anthropology, chemical physics, literature and art history
A Department of Digital Health, exploring biomedical tools
A Department of 3D Craniofacial Reconstruction
Sorbonne University has formed with academic institutions such as the China Scholarship Council or the Brazilian foundation FAPERJ several partnerships enabling bilateral research programs.
Sorbonne University is a member of The League of European Research Universities, which gathers 23 European universities such as The University of Cambridge (UK) and The University of Oxford (UK).
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