Russell is the originator of the theory that life emerged at alkaline submarine hydrothermal vents.

Russell's theory is that hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and methane, released from submarine alkaline hydrothermal vents, acted upon nitrate, ferrous and ferric iron, carbon dioxide, and protons in ambient ocean waters to form simple organic molecules[1] Russell studied 360-million-year-old mineral deposits in Ireland, which led to his insight that iron sulfide and hydroxide cells may have provided three-dimensional molds for the first cell walls.

He worked as a mineral exploration geologist in the Solomon Islands and Canada prior to taking his PhD in geochemistry at the University of Durham.

[6] Russell has appeared on BBC programmes[7] [8] including Horizon's Life on Mars[9] and Origin of Life [10] In June 2009, Russell was awarded the William Smith Medal from the Geological Society of London for his lifetime contributions to applied geology.

[11] In 2018, he was awarded NASA's Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his research into the emergence of life.