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An analysis of rocks in South Africa has revealed the existence of a diverse ecosystem that thrived in the sea 3.4 billion years ago, suggesting an even earlier origin of life on Earth. The rocks, which are 3.42 billion years old, contain microscopic blobs of carbon-based matter believed to be the remains of microorganisms. The chemical makeup of these blobs indicates that there were photosynthetic microbes living near the surface of the sea, as well as other microbes that fed on waste products produced by the photosynthetic organisms. This study provides further evidence for an early origin of life on Earth, although the earliest history of life remains unknown due to a lack of well-preserved rocks. [Extracted from the article]