New research co-led by Planetary Science Institute senior scientist Oleg Abramov suggests that Earth's surface conditions became stable enough for the chemistry of life's origins around 4.33 billion years ago. The study offers a specific date for when the planet may have become capable of sustaining prebiotic reactions.
The finding narrows the timeline for the origins of life by identifying a point at which the environment was no longer too unstable for such chemistry. According to the research, this stability occurred in Earth's early history, though the study does not detail the mechanisms that produced it.
Abramov and colleagues' work adds a precise reference point for scientists studying the conditions that preceded life. The research is described as new and co-led by Abramov, but the available summary does not include the methods or evidence behind the conclusion.