How can non-living matter give rise to the phenomena that characterize life? While much progress has been made on parts of this problem, a conceptually coherent way to unify the individual discoveries does not yet exist.

MOL is intended to provide a structured yet adaptive common ground to bring together demonstrative and exploratory simulations and modeling efforts with empirical knowledge and analysis. Part of the approach will be to assemble a set of fundamental questions capturing essential elements of the problem of origins. The goal of the research effort is to arrive at theories of processes of biogenesis, tests and demonstrations, leading to an understanding of the ways in which life could originate on Earth and other planets.

The origins research community reflects diverse interests and priorities, which can be served by sharing skills, expertise, methods,
and styles of approach. MOL provides a place for research results – positive and negative, simulation codes, experimental data, etc. – to be collected and shared, as well as a workspace for collaboration where insights from many sources will be synthesized into a more comprehensive and fundamental understanding of the transition from non-life to life.