Ancient Asgard Ancestor Traces All Complex Life

New genomic analyses strengthen the link between all complex life and a common Asgard archaean ancestor, with Hodarchaeales highlighted as a close relative. Scientists infer an anaerobic, hydrogen‑dependent acetogen that lived before the Great Oxidation Event over 2 billion years ago, forming the backbone of the Asgard–eukaryote connection. While subsequent studies and a 2026 correction reinforce this link, the exact branching order within the Asgard lineage remains debated as researchers refine where our branch sits on the tree.