Shichun Huang (Geoscience), Min Li (Physics and Astronomy) and their colleagues published an article, , in Naure Geoscience. Using sophisticated ab initio and thermodynamics calculations, they showed that the Earth's sulfur, an important volatile element, budget is mainly controlled by evaporation from molten planetesimals before Earth’s formation. This work highlights the profound role of melt–vapor reaction in establishing Earth’s volatile element budget, which is essential for life.