To find out if we are alone in the galaxy, we will need to better understand what geochemical conditions nurtured the first life forms. What water, chemistry and temperature cycles fostered the ...

The first multicelled animals appeared in the fossil record almost 600 million years ago. Known as the Ediacarans, these bizarre creatures bore little resemblance to modern life-forms. They grew ...

Looking at stromatolites, which were the first life forms on Earth, before our planet even had an oxygenated atmosphere, is a most promising avenue. More information: Volker Vahrenkamp et al ...

These mysterious forms, first identified through cutting-edge genetic analysis, challenge existing definitions of life and raise questions about what else might be lurking unseen within us.