Ancient microbes reveal how complex life may have formed on Earth

Researchers studying Shark Bay stromatolites show that Asgard archaea and a sulfate‑reducing bacterium directly interact, observed with DNA sequencing, AI protein modeling, and high-resolution imaging, offering a plausible model for the origin of eukaryotes and complex life; the new archaeon was named Nerearchaeum marumarumayae in collaboration with the Malgana people, highlighting a blend of modern science and Indigenous knowledge.