Surface‐Driven Protocell Formation in Geologically Relevant Early Earth Environment

ABSTRACT The origin of life, marking the transition from nonliving to living matter, remains one of the unresolved mysteries in Earth's history. Despite significant progress, many aspects of this process are still poorly understood, particularly given that the environmental conditions of early Earth differ substantially from those of the present. This review examines the surface‐driven formation of protocells in geologically relevant early Earth settings, focusing on the interplay between geological substrates and prebiotic biochemistry. Rather than emphasizing homogeneous bulk reactions, it aims to highlight how solid–liquid interfaces could have facilitated the emergence of life. Recent theoretical and experimental advances prove that catalytic properties, surface charges, and organic molecule upconcentration capacities of mineral surfaces were crucial in enabling the synthesis of organics and compartmentalization of protocells. Multiple geological environments, including hydrothermal vents, volcanic terrains, and surface waters, will be considered in this review and examined as dynamic arenas fostering complex chemical networks. Environmental challenges such as molecular dilution and ultraviolet radiation are also discussed, along with the protective mechanisms that could have mitigated them. Linking geology to biology, this review offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the origins of life on Earth and how it could arise on other planets.