6. Iron-Sulfur World Theory
The Iron-Sulfur World Theory, proposed by Günter Wächtershäuser in the 1980s, suggests that life originated on the surface of iron and sulfur minerals under high pressure and temperature, possibly at the ocean floor. (en.wikipedia.org) In this environment, chemical reactions between iron sulfide minerals and hydrogen sulfide could have produced organic molecules, providing the necessary energy and materials for the emergence of life. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that such conditions can support the growth of simple life forms, supporting this hypothesis. (eurekalert.org)