Newcastle University scientists, supported by the UK's Natural Environmental Research Council, have been delving into the mystery of life's emergence on Earth over 3.5 billion years ago. They have explored the transformation of inert geological materials into the first living systems. Their exper

This study shows that the reaction of dissolved hydrogen and bicarbonate with the iron-rich mineral magnetite under conditions similar to mild hydrothermal vents generate a range of molecules including fatty acids up to 18 carbon atoms in length. Their results may provide a plausible genesis of the organic molecules that form ancient cell membranes.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-01196-4