Microfossils may be evidence life began ‘very quickly’ after Earth formed

Scientists believe specimen shows life existed earlier than is widely assumed - increasing chances of life elsewhere

Scientists believe they have found evidence of microbes that were thriving near hydrothermal vents on Earth's surface just 300m years after the planet formed - the strongest evidence yet that life began far earlier than is widely assumed.

If confirmed, it would suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life are relatively basic.