Tag: Origin of life
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Chiral Chemical Fuels Drive Two Distinct Supramolecular Self-Assemblies
Chiral fuels, two paths of self-assembly Self-assembly is a cornerstone of chemistry and biology, guiding how molecules organize into larger structures without external scaffolds. From everyday materials to complex cellular machinery, triggers such as light, temperature, pH, and chemical stimuli can steer these processes. A recent study from researchers at the University of Freiburg reveals…
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Chiral Chemical Fuels Trigger Two Very Different Supramolecular Self-Assemblies
Introduction: A new trigger for life-like self-assembly Self-assembly is a fundamental process where molecules organize into larger structures in response to a variety of stimuli. Traditionally, light, temperature, pH and chemical cues have been used to steer these formations. A team of researchers has now demonstrated that chemical fuels themselves—specifically chiral acylating agents—can drive peptides…
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Chiral Chemical Fuels Drive Dual Supramolecular Assemblies
Chiral fuels steer divergent self-assembly pathways Researchers have unveiled that chemical fuels with handedness can dictate how molecules assemble into distinct supramolecular structures. This finding adds a new lever to the growing field of energy-driven self-assembly, where stimuli such as light, temperature, pH—and now chemical chirality—steer the formation and behavior of complex nano- and micro-scale…
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Sea Sponges: Earth’s First Animals Revealed by MIT Study
Sea Sponges: Earth’s First Animals – What the New MIT Findings Suggest A team of MIT geochemists has sparked renewed debate about the origins of animal life by presenting evidence from some of the planet’s oldest rocks. In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researchers argue…