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CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments

@crc392molevo.bsky.social

CRC 392 Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments at @lmumuenchen.bsky.social, funded by @dfg.de. Continuing the work of CRC 235 Emergence of Life. Impressum: https://tinyurl.com/4uyc4sfs

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CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Your poster isn’t finished yet? We know the feeling 👀 Join scientists from a multitude of different disciplines to discuss the emergence of life at the MOM conference. 🗓️ New poster submission deadline: 25 May 🔗 indico.physik.uni-muenchen.de/event/645/ #OriginOfLife #Conference #CRC392

Animated-style meme of a young man gesturing dramatically toward a butterfly. The man is labeled “ME” and the butterfly is labeled “DEADLINE FOR POSTER SUBMISSIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED.” At the bottom, large text reads: “IS THIS TRUE LOVE?”.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Life didn’t start in a single discipline, and neither does this conference. 🌍 Molecular Origins of Life Munich 2026 (MOM) unites astronomy, biochemistry, geoscience, theoretical chemistry, and physics to explore how life emerged from non-living matter. 🤝 In-person | 🎟️ Free (1/3)

Illustrated conference poster for Molecular Origins of Life Munich 2026. The artwork shows a colorful, stylized landscape blending microscopic and cosmic elements, with abstract shapes suggesting molecules, cells and planetary forms. Pathways and symbols wind through the scene, evoking scientific exploration and evolution. The design has a playful, detailed style and can be transformed into a board game. Text on the poster includes the conference title, dates June 11–12, 2026, location Munich, and registration information.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Science from morning till night. The CRC 392 met again for our winter school in Brixen. The participants arrived with their latest research findings and left with new ideas for experiments and promising collaborations. (1/2)

Snowboard tracks forming a double helix pattern in fresh snow on a sunny mountain slope under a bright blue sky.

Two researchers wearing name badges discuss a project indoors, gesturing with pens during an informal exchange at the winter school venue.

Group photo of CRC 392 participants standing together in front of a hotel in Brixen, with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 8mo ago

At our Monthly Meeting in Munich, Bill Orsi took us deep into Earth’s early history. We discussed banded iron formations and the big question of how they formed during the Great Oxidation Event. Plenty to think about. (1/4)

A speaker presents a lecture titled “Thiobiochemistry inside and outside the cell” in a seminar room, sitting at a desk in front of a projected slide while the audience listens.

A researcher wearing gloves explains a complex laboratory setup with tubes, valves, and electronic components, holding a small device while standing next to the experimental apparatus.

A man prepares Kaiserschmarrn on a large flat griddle, cutting the fluffy pancake into pieces with spatulas in a laboratory kitchen setting.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Monthly meeting in Heidelberg! This time, we delved into the intersection of synthetic biology and the origin of life. #OriginOfLife #RNAOrigami #Science

Scientist Ebbe Andersen gives a lecture on the RNA World Hypothesis, with a colorful cartoon slide showing ancient ribozymes and molecular evolution.

People gathered in a narrow lab corridor illuminated by red lighting, listening to a presentation about ongoing RNA research.

Group photo of conference attendees standing in front of a scenic view of Heidelberg, surrounded by autumn-colored hills and dramatic skies.

Thomas Matreux @tmatreux.bsky.social · 9mo ago

How could magmatic liquid immiscibility help to solve early Earth's phosphate problem? In a great collaboration with Daniel Weller and @irissmokers.bsky.social, we show how phosphate can be enriched in volcanic melts to fuel prebiotic chemistry. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Magmatic immiscibility provides phosphate for prebiotic chemistry

Volcanic immiscibility provides a key mechanism to enrich phosphate, fueling prebiotic chemistry.

science.org

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Frontiers in Nanoscience! We spent a week at the @cens-lmu.bsky.social conference in Venice – on the beautiful island of San Servolo. (1/3) #OriginOfLife #Science #Venice

Conference room with students seated, listening to a speaker presenting under a screen titled “Poster Sessions” at Venice International University.

People standing on a wooden pier looking out over the water under a cloudy sky in Venice.

View of the Grand Canal in Venice with Santa Maria della Salute cathedral in the background and boats on the water.

Nighttime view of a quiet canal in Venice, with boats docked and lights reflecting on the water.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 11mo ago

CRC goes Superbloom! 🎉 Where did life first emerge? This was the topic of our new discussion island at the Superbloom Festival. Visitors discovered the various theories about prebiotic environments and could choose the one that made the most sense to them. #OriginOfLife #Superbloom #Science

Close-up of the hydrothermal vents section of the booth, with explanatory texts and photos pinned above voting tubes already containing some blue balls. The Superbrain balloon is visible in the background.

A visitor wearing a red shirt examines the interactive origin-of-life installation, which displays different environments like “Meteorites” and “Nuclear Geyser” for visitors to vote on.

A person places a blue voting ball into the tube labeled “Radioaktiver Geysir / Nuclear Geyser” at the CRC discussion booth.

Final voting results at the CRC Superbloom installation: Tubes for “Icefields,” “Meteorites,” “Nuclear Geyser,” “Hydrothermal Vents,” “Volcanic Ponds,” and “Divine Power” filled with different amounts of blue balls—Hydrothermal Vents in the lead.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · 12mo ago

This week, I learned something remarkable: Stanley Miller ran an experiment that stayed frozen for 25 years. ❄️When thawed, the vial contained building blocks of life: amino acids and nucleobases. Probably the longest-running experiment ever! 🧪 #OriginOfLife #Ice #Science

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

This time, the CRC monthly meeting took us to Stuttgart! We visited Clemens Richert's lab and started the day with a fascinating introduction to nucleotide reaction cycles. Rather than zooming in on single reactions, his group studies reaction networks. (1/3)

Clemens Richert and Max von Delius stand in front of a chalkboard during a talk. One of them is pointing at a complex diagram involving reactions, while the other listens. Notes and chemical structures are written across two chalkboards. A few people watch from the audience.

Three people play music in a lab room: one plays the piano, one stands with an electric guitar, and another sits playing an acoustic guitar. Behind them are shelves with scientific magazines and posters, blending science and a relaxed musical atmosphere.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

You know the people in the lab have a sense of humour when they have memes hanging around. #Science #Memes #OriginOfLife

Front view of a THINKY ARE-250 laboratory mixer with a sticker of Bernie Sanders saying, "I am once again asking to not make a mess with PDMS!" The meme humorously reminds users to be careful with silicone mixing.

A sticker of a dog sitting at a microscope with the caption, "I have a ruff idea of what I'm doing," is taped to the lab bench near a microscope and a bundle of clear tubing. The meme adds a playful touch to the lab workspace.

A printed meme taped to lab equipment shows a four-panel comic of Gru from "Despicable Me." It reads: "Mom said: 'Get good education, so you don’t end up as a dishwasher' → Educate yourself to work in a laboratory → Still washing dishes → Still washing dishes." The meme playfully reflects the reality of lab chores.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

"Unbeing dead isn't being alive." – E. E. Cummings, as quoted by Jasna Brujic in her presentation today. If you're still thinking about that, sign up for our online conference all about the molecular origins of life! 🔗 indico.physik.uni-muenchen.de/event/537/ #OriginOfLife #Science #Conference

Color-coded conference schedule for MOM 2025, taking place online from July 16–18. Each day features sessions of scientific talks (on topics like RNA replication, photochemistry, coacervates, and origins of life), followed by “Meet the Speaker” breakout discussions and poster sessions. The schedule includes speaker names, affiliations, and time slots. A note at the bottom provides time zone info and explains the session format.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

PhD student Yinqing Li gave us a behind-the-scenes lab tour of the microfluidic “torture chamber” (the microfluidic device featured in a post before). These tiny devices aren’t made of glass: they’re made of a silicone gel shaped under the microscope. (1/5)

A researcher is seated at a laboratory workstation, looking into a microscope connected to a computer. On the monitor, a microfluidic chip is visible. Various tubes and electronic equipment are arranged on the desk.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Day 7 in Iceland: We explored the Fagradalsfjall lava field, which has had several eruptions since 2021. The basaltic flows contained not only sparkling minerals but were also a surprisingly nice place to lie down. 🌋 More: crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-7 #Volcano #OriginOfLife #Iceland

Two scientists are lying on a solidified lava field at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland. The dark basaltic rock shows different textures. Behind them rises a grassy slope, part of the volcanic terrain shaped by recent eruptions.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Day 6 in Iceland: Have you ever heard of Diamond Beach in Iceland? 💎 Read our blog to learn how glaciers carve out stunning ice sculptures and how volcanic eruptions beneath the ice can shape entire coastlines. 👉 crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-6/ #Geology #DiamondBeach #Iceland

Close-up view of a jagged, transparent ice block on the black sand of Diamond Beach in Iceland. The ice, shaped like a sculpture, glistens against a cloudy sky and the cold ocean in the background, with floating icebergs visible in the distance.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Day 5 in Iceland: At Eystrahorn, we explored ancient magma chambers now exposed by erosion. These special rocks have been formed by magma and cooled under the surface. 🌋 Read more about our hike and the science behind it: 🔗 crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-5/ #Iceland #Geology #OriginOfLife

A smooth, light-gray rock surface at the coast of Eystrahorn, Iceland, shows long cracks and sharp edges. Dark volcanic sand lies at the base, and a few hikers are visible in the distance, climbing along the slope under a partly cloudy blue sky.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🇮🇸 Day 4 in Iceland: Ever heard of pseudo-craters or lava pipes? Curious where this magical cave photo was taken? Find out on our blog 👉 crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-4/ #OriginOfLife #Iceland #ScienceAdventure #Science

Interior of a cave in Iceland, showing a calm, blue geothermal pool surrounded by rugged volcanic rock. The water reflects the cave ceiling, creating a mirror-like effect. Warm light illuminates part of the rock in the background.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🌋 Day 3 in Iceland: We explored the Krafla caldera, a giant volcanic crater. There, we found rocks coated in volcanic glass. This amazing glossy surface forms when molten rock cools too quickly for crystals to grow. Read more: crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-3/ #OriginOfLife #Iceland #Science

A wide shot of a lone person walking along the top of a colorful, clay-altered geothermal ridge under a bright blue sky filled with scattered clouds. The landscape below shows shades of yellow, orange, and beige, typical of areas affected by acidic geothermal activity.

A close-up of various volcanic rocks scattered on the ground, some freshly broken to reveal their inner layers. The rocks show different colors and textures, including glassy black surfaces, brownish layers, and mineral inclusions. A hiking boot is visible in the corner for scale.

Sven T. Stripp @stripplab.bsky.social · last yr.

Looking forward to attend #MOM2025 next week! @crc392molevo.bsky.social indico.physik.uni-muenchen.de/event/537/ov...

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🧪 Day 2 in Iceland: We measured pH & temperature in hydrothermal ponds — one reached pH 9.4! Alkaline water like this could’ve fueled RNA formation. 🧬 Later, we visited the Goðafoss waterfall. Read more on the blog! crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com/day-2/ #OriginOfLife #Iceland #Science

A close-up view of a thermal camera screen held in front of a geothermal stream. The display shows a colorful heat map with temperatures ranging from around 10 °C to over 50 °C, indicating hot water flowing through the landscape.

Four people at a geothermal site, one lying on a wooden boardwalk while holding a long sampling rod into a steaming hot spring. The others assist or observe, bundled in warm outdoor gear and knitted hats. Steam rises from the geothermal area in the background.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🌋 Day 1 in Iceland We started where Icelandic society began — at Þingvellir, home to the world’s oldest parliament. Then, science met steam at the erupting Strokkur Geyser. To end the day? We enjoyed a bath in a naturally heated hot pool with a golden view. Not bad for the first chapter of our trip!

A powerful burst of water erupts from the Strokkur Geyser in Iceland, shooting high into the clear blue sky. In the background, a group of visitors stands in a semicircle, observing the geyser’s eruption from a safe distance.

Golden evening light illuminates steam rising from a naturally occurring hot spring in the Icelandic countryside. The landscape is flat and grassy, with grazing sheep in the distance and soft clouds stretching across the horizon.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

What happens when you send CRC 392 researchers to an island full of volcanoes and glaciers? 🌋❄️ Find out and join us for daily updates and snapshots from Iceland! 📸 Want more details, stories & photos? Check out our blog: crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com #Science #OriginOfLife #Iceland #Fieldwork

CRC goes Iceland

Official travel blog of the CRC392

crcgoesiceland.wordpress.com

Deni Szokoli @szokoli.bsky.social · last yr.

Have you ever wanted to design large and complex ribozymes from scratch? I know I have! We used RNA inverse folding to design synthetic Group II Introns (G2Is) from the bottom up, resulting in highly active #ribozymes that splice in E. coli without proteins! #intron #RNAsky #SynBio 🧬🧵(1/n)

Computational De Novo Design of Group II Introns Yields Highly Active Ribozymes

Group II Introns (G2Is) are large self-splicing ribozymes with promising biotechnological applications. This study utilized RNA inverse folding to design three novel G2Is. The designed intron Arq.I2,...

doi.org

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🧠 Great ideas take time. That’s why the poster deadline has been extended to: 📅 July 8 💻 Online & free 🔗 Registration indico.physik.uni-muenchen.de/event/537/ Let it simmer — then bring the brilliance! #OriginOfLife #MolecularEvolution #Conference

Poster for the “Molecular Origins of Life 2025” online conference, held July 16–18, 2025. The vibrant artwork by Priyanka Oberoi features an abstract early Earth scene: volcanic landscapes, DNA, molecules, and a rainbow prism bursting from a cracked sphere, symbolizing the emergence of life. Lightning bolts and suns add dynamic energy. A QR code links to www.lmu.de/mom2025. At the bottom, the list of invited speakers is shown in colorful text: Donna Blackmond, Jasna Brujic, Irene Chen, Daniel Duzdevich, Kosuke Fujishima, Paul Higgs, Marcel Hollenstein, Philipp Holliger, Frieder Klein, Corinna Kupfer, Sergei Maslov, Ulrich Müller, Arvind Murugan, Henrike Niederholtmeyer, Takumi Okuda, Matthew Pasek, Alexey Potapov, James Saenz, Anja Spang, Dora Tang, Zoe Todd, Yuichiro Ueno

Hannes Mutschler @mutschlerlab.bsky.social · last yr.

PURE meets heat flows and likes what it finds! Fantastic work by Alex & Noel from the Braun lab! Glad to have been part of it. @lmumuenchen.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1... @crc392molevo.bsky.social @tu-dortmund.bsky.social

Membraneless protocell confined by a heat flow - Nature Physics

In living cells, a complex mixture of biomolecules is assembled within and across membranes. This non-equilibrium state is maintained by sophisticated protein machinery, which imports food molecules, ...

link.springer.com

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Want great feedback and fun science chats? Register your poster for MOM25! #Science #OriginOfLife #Conference

A Venn diagram with three intersecting circles. The top circle is labeled “Great science,” the left circle “Design a poster,” and the right circle “Fun conversations.” In the center where all three circles overlap is the bold label “MOM25 Poster Session,” suggesting that the poster session combines all these aspects.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments@crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Online Conference | Molecular Origins of Life – Munich 2025 Join us for talks & posters across disciplines. 📅 July 16–18 ❗Poster registration deadline: 30 June 💻 Online & free 🔗 Registration is open now indico.physik.uni-muenchen.de/event/537/ #OriginOfLife #MolecularEvolution #Conference (1/2)

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

🕒 Only 24.341 minutes left to register your poster for MOM 2025! #OriginOfLife #Conference #Science

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments@crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Office with a mountain view? 🌋 The offices of Prof. Braun’s group come with a special touch — they recycled the painted backdrop from the exhibition „simpel, komplex, lebendig“, which was shown in the Deutsche Museum in 2023. (1/3) #OriginOfLife #ScienceArt #LabLife

Office space with a whiteboard mounted on a partition wall painted to resemble black volcanic rock formations. The wall divider is part of a larger mural depicting early Earth, with green waves and mountain shapes extending through the room. Natural light enters through large windows.

Office corner featuring a wall mural of early Earth, with painted black volcanic rock formations on the left and a green, iron-rich ocean with white wave crests on the right. A standing desk with a monitor is positioned in front of the mural.

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Torture chamber for synthetic cells! For cells to be tortured, they must first be dependent. These synthetic cells only emerge and grow when they’re fed with fuel. The fuel activates peptides, which bind polyanions and form droplets representing synthetic cells. (1/6) #OriginOfLife #Science

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments @crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.

Only 28 days left to register your poster for MOM 2025! ⏱️ Don’t miss your chance to share your research. #OriginOfLife #ScienceConference

CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments@crc392molevo.bsky.social · last yr.