New research suggests life on Earth began 4.2 billion years ago, earlier than thought

Recent research suggests that Luca, the last universal common ancestor of all life on Earth, lived around 4.2 billion years ago, much earlier than previous estimates of 3.5-3.8 billion years. This finding indicates that life may have emerged on Earth sooner than previously thought. Luca was a complex single-celled organism, likely living in a diverse ecosystem. It had the ability to sustain itself using simple molecules and may have coexisted with other organisms, creating a rich environment for life to thrive. The study implies that life could be more common in the universe than previously believed. If life began on Earth quickly, it raises the possibility that similar conditions on other planets could also support life.