From phys.org and other sources

The interesting thing about life is that it has stable modes ie. the chemistry produces persistent molecules. Not infinitely stable but long enough in our case to reproduce. Now carbon chemistry gives this in spades so it is reasonable to hypothecate other life elsewhere has that base. With an entropy differential, a hot sun and a cool vacuum, life is downhill to carbon. Many stars make carbon and not in small amounts, and supernovae spread it all over the place. We know some simple molecules exist in the interstellar medium. Life is chancy though, as everything has to work right to make it, especially a stable and non lethal environment. We happen to live by using a corrosive gas to gradually convert lower entropy molecules to higher entropy ones, thus linking catabolism to anabolism. That oxidative phosphorylation mechanism (Kreb's/citric cycle et al) is probably not unique, though what other types of life may form in environments more suited to them ?

The main trick is to kick start life when there is a plethora of ways to die. There have been hypotheses about various bodies transporting the relevant ingredients around the universe. Then there was that 'lightning in a test tube' experiment done quite a while ago that produced organic molecules from simple elements. Life is a slow crawl uphill. Well at least up until nuclear weapons production or viral engineering efforts (yep, both are still ongoing as we speak) as you get a very quick slide from there alas.

Cheers, Mike.