India rock dated to 3.4 billion years may preserve Earth's oldest life signs

Recent discoveries in India have unveiled biological traces that date back approximately 3.5 billion years, indicating a significantly ancient origin of life on Earth. Researchers have confirmed the presence of photosynthetic activity and intricate metabolic processes within these samples, which originated from environments close to underwater hydrothermal vents. This remarkable finding represents the oldest known biological materials found in rock formations.