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August 4, 2025

OoL digest — August 4

This week we have 14 new papers on the origin of life. Enjoy!


Astrobiology

Communicating astrobiology and the search for life elsewhere: Speculations and promises of a developing scientific field in newspapers, press releases and papers
Albergaria et al. — PLOS ONE

Estimating the potential of ionizing radiation-induced radiolysis for microbial metabolism on terrestrial planets and satellites with rarefied atmospheres
Atri et al. — International Journal of Astrobiology

A proposed mechanism for the formation of protocell-like structures on Titan
Mayer et al. — International Journal of Astrobiology

Exploring Impact Vapor Plume Reactions from Asteroidal Impacts: Monte Carlo Simulations and Implications for Biomolecules Synthesis
Ochiai et al. — Icarus

Crystal Habits as Potential Biosignatures
Perl et al. — Astrobiology

Exploring molecular assembly as a biosignature using mass spectrometry and machine learning
Rutter et al. — preprint


Astrochemistry

Formation of Lactic Acid (CH3CH(OH)COOH), a Metabolic Keystone for the Molecular Origins of Life, in Interstellar Ice Analogues
Wang et al. — Journal of the American Chemical Society

On the origins of oxygen: ALMA and JWST characterise the multi-phase, metal-enriched, star-bursting medium within a 'normal' $z > 11$ galaxy
Witstok et al. — preprint


Biochemistry

The development of code systems during eukaryogenesis and the rise of multicellularity
Igamberdiev — BioSystems


Computational Biology

A niche construction-based perspective on chemical evolution before replication and reproduction
Papale et al. — preprint


Planetary Sciences

Mineralogy, geochemistry and morphology of Arctic gossans on Axel Heiberg Island, NU, Canada: Spectroscopic investigation and implications for Mars
Belleau-Magnat et al. — Planetary and Space Science

The Role of Tectonic Luck in Long-Term Habitability of Abiotic Earth-like Planets
Coy et al. — preprint

Can a convecting magma ocean offer a solution to the puzzling case of core convection in early earth?
Dutta et al. — preprint

Invariance of dynamo action in an early-Earth model
Lin et al. — Nature

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