CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments
LightNews LightNews
banner
crc392molevo.bsky.social
CRC 392 - Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments
@crc392molevo.bsky.social
85 followers 45 following 59 posts
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
Posts Replies Media Videos
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
November 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
October 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
September 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
"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.
July 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
Two gel halves are carefully aligned by hand under a microscope, down to just 10 µm precision. Once the gel layers are perfectly aligned and stacked, tiny holes are punched to insert needles: some feed the reaction chamber, others control the gel vaults.
(4/5)
Close-up of a mounted microfluidic chip on a microscope stage. Multiple transparent tubes are connected to the chip for fluid input.
July 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
How do you build something so tiny and complex? In a cleanroom!
The tunnels are formed using a wafer: a glass mold with microscopic grooves. Since these molds would be destroyed by UV light, the room is lit with yellow light. (New to me: there was a sticky foil at the entrance to trap dust)
(3/5)
Close-up view of a microfluidic device placed in a foil-covered Petri dish. The device has blue coloration and defined square sections. Room with yellow lighting, showing a 'Photoresist Processing' poster on the wall. A red and black instrument is on the right. A small cabinet with a digital clock and lab items stands in the corner, along with a stool and a trash bin nearby.
July 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
To control fluid flow, the chips include side tunnels filled with water. When pressure is applied, the water lifts a soft gel layer that blocks specific channels, acting like a flexible gel gatekeeper.
(2/5)
July 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
July 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
🇮🇸 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.
July 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
🌋 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.
July 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
🧪 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.
July 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
🌋 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.
July 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
🧠 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
June 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
June 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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.
June 13, 2025 at 12:12 PM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
Then came starvation: After a while, the peptides deactivate, causing the drops to dissolve. The researchers delayed the next fuel addition until the mother droplets had dissolved, and only then added fuel to save the offspring. The traumatized offspring droplets could even grow again.
(3/6)
This is a photograph and a microscopic image of the microfluidic device used to study synthetic cell droplets. On the left, the chip is mounted on a microscope stage. It is rectangular and made of stacked transparent silicone layers, with thin, maze-like channels visible inside. Right: A microscopic image shows a circular reaction chamber (labelled) connected to surrounding channels with vaults. Scale bar: 500 µm.
June 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
To intensify the torment, researchers gave these cells the ability to form offspring. To achieve this, they mixed long and short polyanions. Over time, the long ones clustered into dense speckles inside, which are released as offspring when the mother droplet dissolves.
(2/6)
Schematic cycle showing the life stages of fuel-dependent synthetic droplets. A large purple droplet with mixed internal components matures over time, forming denser domains with long polyanions (dark purple). Short polyanions (green) are released (efflux), and the droplet fragments into smaller offspring droplets. After refueling, the offspring grow into new large droplets, completing the cycle.
June 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
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
June 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
Light and Fluorescence Microscopy revealed that the archaea gathered near the chimney particles. Surprisingly, growth rates in the chemical gardens, where the archaea received no additional nutrients or vitamins, nearly matched those in ideal lab conditions.
(4/5)
Combined Light and Fluorescence Microscopy image showing black iron-sulfide particles with naturally fluorescent archaea appearing as bright blue spots within the iron-sulfide aggregates. Scale bar: 10 µm.
May 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
crc392molevo.bsky.social
To investigate this, researchers recreated early Earth conditions. Since many modern archaea inhabit hydrothermal vents, they built mini versions using a method called chemical garden simulation: injecting sulfidic fluid into a ferruginous solution to form small black iron-sulfide chimneys.
(2/5)
A vertical glass vessel containing a ferruginous solution and a black chimney structure which formed on the tip of a needle. The syringe injects the sulfidic fluid from below, illustrating the experimental setup used to create iron-sulfide chimneys in the lab.
May 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM