Origin of Life Early-Career Network
@oolen.bsky.social
International network of early-career researchers on the origin of life. Join us and subscribe to our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iCsDR2
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🌟 Exciting news, we've just created a new list of OoLEN users that you can follow to stay connected with our vibrant network. 🎉
📢 OoLEN members: If you notice that you're not on the list, please reach out to us. 🤝
Let's keep building this awesome community together! 💙 #OoLEN
bsky.app/profile/did:...
📢 OoLEN members: If you notice that you're not on the list, please reach out to us. 🤝
Let's keep building this awesome community together! 💙 #OoLEN
bsky.app/profile/did:...
14 Jan 2005: ESA’s Huygens probe landed on Titan 🪐 — still the only landing in the outer Solar System.
Titan remains a top “ocean world”–adjacent target: rich organics, active chemistry, and an incredible natural lab for thinking about prebiotic pathways.
#Titan #OriginOfLife #OceanWorlds
Titan remains a top “ocean world”–adjacent target: rich organics, active chemistry, and an incredible natural lab for thinking about prebiotic pathways.
#Titan #OriginOfLife #OceanWorlds
January 14, 2026 at 8:01 AM
14 Jan 2005: ESA’s Huygens probe landed on Titan 🪐 — still the only landing in the outer Solar System.
Titan remains a top “ocean world”–adjacent target: rich organics, active chemistry, and an incredible natural lab for thinking about prebiotic pathways.
#Titan #OriginOfLife #OceanWorlds
Titan remains a top “ocean world”–adjacent target: rich organics, active chemistry, and an incredible natural lab for thinking about prebiotic pathways.
#Titan #OriginOfLife #OceanWorlds
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
New OoL digest is out! 🌍🧬 32 new papers, ft. Europa’s seafloor activity, Enceladus exploration roadmaps, prebiotic nickel catalysis, multicellularity switches in yeast, and liquid water scenarios on ancient Mars.
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
OoL digest — January 12
buttondown.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:01 PM
New OoL digest is out! 🌍🧬 32 new papers, ft. Europa’s seafloor activity, Enceladus exploration roadmaps, prebiotic nickel catalysis, multicellularity switches in yeast, and liquid water scenarios on ancient Mars.
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
If you work on the origins of life / prebiotic chemistry, consider joining OoLEN 🧬🌍
We’re an early-career community for connecting across disciplines, sharing opportunities, and building momentum together.
Join: oolen.org/join
(And feel free to reply with what you work on!)
#OriginOfLife
We’re an early-career community for connecting across disciplines, sharing opportunities, and building momentum together.
Join: oolen.org/join
(And feel free to reply with what you work on!)
#OriginOfLife
January 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM
If you work on the origins of life / prebiotic chemistry, consider joining OoLEN 🧬🌍
We’re an early-career community for connecting across disciplines, sharing opportunities, and building momentum together.
Join: oolen.org/join
(And feel free to reply with what you work on!)
#OriginOfLife
We’re an early-career community for connecting across disciplines, sharing opportunities, and building momentum together.
Join: oolen.org/join
(And feel free to reply with what you work on!)
#OriginOfLife
#AbSciCon26 (Madison, WI • May 2026): OoLEN members are convening sessions—consider submitting!
Abstract deadline: Jan 14, 2026.
www.agu.org/abscicon
Thread 🧵👇
Abstract deadline: Jan 14, 2026.
www.agu.org/abscicon
Thread 🧵👇
AbSciCon 2026
The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) brings the astrobiology community together every two years to share research, collaborate, and plan for the future.
www.agu.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM
#AbSciCon26 (Madison, WI • May 2026): OoLEN members are convening sessions—consider submitting!
Abstract deadline: Jan 14, 2026.
www.agu.org/abscicon
Thread 🧵👇
Abstract deadline: Jan 14, 2026.
www.agu.org/abscicon
Thread 🧵👇
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
New OoL digest is out! 🪐 12 new papers, ft. the Viking missions, exoplanet habitability, and lava tubes on Mars.
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
OoL digest — January 5
buttondown.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM
New OoL digest is out! 🪐 12 new papers, ft. the Viking missions, exoplanet habitability, and lava tubes on Mars.
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
#OriginOfLife #Astrobiology
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
How molecules copy themselves with fewer errors? And how is this related to the origins of life? Check our blog !
sciworthy.com/how-molecule...
sciworthy.com/how-molecule...
How molecules copy themselves with fewer errors – Sciworthy
Researchers found that molecules can self-replicate with fewer errors by selecting similar ingredients.
sciworthy.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:06 AM
How molecules copy themselves with fewer errors? And how is this related to the origins of life? Check our blog !
sciworthy.com/how-molecule...
sciworthy.com/how-molecule...
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Part II of the "Workshop on Information, Selection and Evolution" theme issue is now out in
@royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to @carnegiescience.bsky.social artist Navid Marvi for producing the journal cover image—funneling between function landscapes.
@royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to @carnegiescience.bsky.social artist Navid Marvi for producing the journal cover image—funneling between function landscapes.
Volume 15 Issue 6 | Interface Focus | The Royal Society
Themed issues covering cross-disciplinary research at the interface between the physical life and social sciences.
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Part II of the "Workshop on Information, Selection and Evolution" theme issue is now out in
@royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to @carnegiescience.bsky.social artist Navid Marvi for producing the journal cover image—funneling between function landscapes.
@royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to @carnegiescience.bsky.social artist Navid Marvi for producing the journal cover image—funneling between function landscapes.
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Part I of the "Workshop on Information, Selection and Evolution" theme issue is now out in @royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to study author Bruno Cuevas-Zuviria for producing the journal cover image—the origin of life as cave art.
Special shout-out to study author Bruno Cuevas-Zuviria for producing the journal cover image—the origin of life as cave art.
Volume 15 Issue 5 | Interface Focus | The Royal Society
Themed issues covering cross-disciplinary research at the interface between the physical life and social sciences.
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Part I of the "Workshop on Information, Selection and Evolution" theme issue is now out in @royalsocietypublishing.org!
Special shout-out to study author Bruno Cuevas-Zuviria for producing the journal cover image—the origin of life as cave art.
Special shout-out to study author Bruno Cuevas-Zuviria for producing the journal cover image—the origin of life as cave art.
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
I am co-convening a session at AbSciCon26, if you're interested in chemical self-assembly and what that could mean for the future exploration of ocean worlds, feel free to check out the link below! agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
December 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I am co-convening a session at AbSciCon26, if you're interested in chemical self-assembly and what that could mean for the future exploration of ocean worlds, feel free to check out the link below! agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
If you’re an early-career OoL researcher, please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out! 👇
We’re running the 2025 OoLEN Diversity & Inclusion Survey 🧬🌍
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
OoLEN Diversity and Inclusion Survey 2025
This survey is intended to be taken by anyone who considers themselves to be an early career researcher, working on topics related to OoL. It is a repeat of the OoLEN Diversity and Inclusion Survey 20...
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
If you’re an early-career OoL researcher, please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out! 👇
We’re running the 2025 OoLEN Diversity & Inclusion Survey 🧬🌍
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
OoLEN Diversity and Inclusion Survey 2025
This survey is intended to be taken by anyone who considers themselves to be an early career researcher, working on topics related to OoL. It is a repeat of the OoLEN Diversity and Inclusion Survey 20...
bit.ly
November 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
We’re running the 2025 OoLEN Diversity & Inclusion Survey 🧬🌍
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
If you are an early-career origins-of-life researcher, we would really value your anonymous input.
It takes about 5–8 minutes, and you can skip any question.
Trigger warning: bullying and harassment.
Form: bit.ly/44rUzko
Curious about the origins-of-life community? 🌱
Sign up for the OoLEN newsletter for research highlights, events & opportunities. Something new is landing very soon... 👀
🔗 bit.ly/48Bb7sJ
Sign up for the OoLEN newsletter for research highlights, events & opportunities. Something new is landing very soon... 👀
🔗 bit.ly/48Bb7sJ
November 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Curious about the origins-of-life community? 🌱
Sign up for the OoLEN newsletter for research highlights, events & opportunities. Something new is landing very soon... 👀
🔗 bit.ly/48Bb7sJ
Sign up for the OoLEN newsletter for research highlights, events & opportunities. Something new is landing very soon... 👀
🔗 bit.ly/48Bb7sJ
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
I'll be co-convening four sessions at #AbSciCon26 on topics ranging from AI-driven discovery to the origins of life to the intersection of astrobiology and philosophy.
Please consider submitting your abstracts to any and all of them!
Please consider submitting your abstracts to any and all of them!
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I'll be co-convening four sessions at #AbSciCon26 on topics ranging from AI-driven discovery to the origins of life to the intersection of astrobiology and philosophy.
Please consider submitting your abstracts to any and all of them!
Please consider submitting your abstracts to any and all of them!
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
We are now accepting abstracts for our session: Transition Metals in Habitability and Biological Evolution for AbSciCon 26! 🪨🧪🦠
Abstract submissions are open until Jan 14: agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
#AbSciCon
Abstract submissions are open until Jan 14: agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
#AbSciCon
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
We are now accepting abstracts for our session: Transition Metals in Habitability and Biological Evolution for AbSciCon 26! 🪨🧪🦠
Abstract submissions are open until Jan 14: agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
#AbSciCon
Abstract submissions are open until Jan 14: agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
#AbSciCon
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Excited to share that I’m also co-convening a second session at AbSciCon26 on Assembly Theory — from molecular complexity to planetary-scale biosignatures!
⏳ Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎 Details: bit.ly/4ie83pH
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #AssemblyTheory #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
⏳ Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎 Details: bit.ly/4ie83pH
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #AssemblyTheory #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Excited to share that I’m also co-convening a second session at AbSciCon26 on Assembly Theory — from molecular complexity to planetary-scale biosignatures!
⏳ Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎 Details: bit.ly/4ie83pH
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #AssemblyTheory #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
⏳ Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎 Details: bit.ly/4ie83pH
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #AssemblyTheory #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Thrilled to share that I’m co-convening a session at AbSciCon26 in Madison WI focused on how self-assembly and self-organization drive chemistry toward the emergence of life! ✨
⏳Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎Details here: bit.ly/4oalWqi
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
⏳Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎Details here: bit.ly/4oalWqi
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Thrilled to share that I’m co-convening a session at AbSciCon26 in Madison WI focused on how self-assembly and self-organization drive chemistry toward the emergence of life! ✨
⏳Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎Details here: bit.ly/4oalWqi
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
⏳Abstract deadline: January 14, 2026
🌎Details here: bit.ly/4oalWqi
#AbSciCon26 #Astrobiology #OriginsOfLife #Complexity
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
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/...
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.
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
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/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Hey, that's our study! 😄
Using a machine learning technique that compares molecular fingerprints left behind by living organisms, researchers have detected signs of photosynthetic life in rocks 2.5 billion years old— about 800 million years older than previously confirmed evidence cen.acs.org/physical-che... #chemsky 🧪
Researchers report earliest molecular evidence of photosynthetic life
Machine learning analysis of bimolecular fragments pushes back time frame for detection of life
cen.acs.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Hey, that's our study! 😄
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Our new biosignatures paper is out in @pnas.org! This time we're using machine learning trained on organic chemical data to identify signs of life—including photosynthetic life—in ancient rocks.
Organic geochemical evidence for life in Archean rocks identified by pyrolysis–GC–MS and supervised machine learning | PNAS
Throughout Earth’s history, organic molecules from both abiogenic and biogenic sources
have been buried in sedimentary rocks. Most of these organic...
www.pnas.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Our new biosignatures paper is out in @pnas.org! This time we're using machine learning trained on organic chemical data to identify signs of life—including photosynthetic life—in ancient rocks.
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Happy to share some amazing news… 🎉
I successfully defended my PhD last month! It’s been a wonderful 17-year journey through four degrees across two very different fields. I’m grateful for everyone who helped along the way — and excited for what’s next.
Which brings me to update #2…
I successfully defended my PhD last month! It’s been a wonderful 17-year journey through four degrees across two very different fields. I’m grateful for everyone who helped along the way — and excited for what’s next.
Which brings me to update #2…
November 10, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Happy to share some amazing news… 🎉
I successfully defended my PhD last month! It’s been a wonderful 17-year journey through four degrees across two very different fields. I’m grateful for everyone who helped along the way — and excited for what’s next.
Which brings me to update #2…
I successfully defended my PhD last month! It’s been a wonderful 17-year journey through four degrees across two very different fields. I’m grateful for everyone who helped along the way — and excited for what’s next.
Which brings me to update #2…
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Happy to share our new review on oligonucleotide chemical evolution on early Earth. We discuss how iterative sequence selection and diversification could have shaped RNA pools, facilitating sequence exploration and the emergence of ribozymes.
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biop...
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biop...
Selection–diversification interplay in oligonucleotide chemical evolution
The emergence of catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) may have set the stage for an “RNA world” preceding protein evolution. The probability of ribozyme emergen …
www.jstage.jst.go.jp
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Happy to share our new review on oligonucleotide chemical evolution on early Earth. We discuss how iterative sequence selection and diversification could have shaped RNA pools, facilitating sequence exploration and the emergence of ribozymes.
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biop...
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biop...
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
Happy to share our newest publication! 🤩
We found that DNA and RNA behave differently in primitive coacervates: RNA makes them more stable, DNA more fluid. Both properties are key for non-enzymatic DNA replication!
An incredible teamwork across continents! 😊
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We found that DNA and RNA behave differently in primitive coacervates: RNA makes them more stable, DNA more fluid. Both properties are key for non-enzymatic DNA replication!
An incredible teamwork across continents! 😊
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Differential stability and dynamics of DNA-based and RNA-based coacervates affect non-enzymatic RNA chemistry - Nature Communications
Mixtures of peptides and nucleic acids tend to demix and form coacervate droplets. Here, the authors show that even short peptides and oligonucleotides form droplets. DNA and RNA impart different prop...
www.nature.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Happy to share our newest publication! 🤩
We found that DNA and RNA behave differently in primitive coacervates: RNA makes them more stable, DNA more fluid. Both properties are key for non-enzymatic DNA replication!
An incredible teamwork across continents! 😊
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We found that DNA and RNA behave differently in primitive coacervates: RNA makes them more stable, DNA more fluid. Both properties are key for non-enzymatic DNA replication!
An incredible teamwork across continents! 😊
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
The deadline is this Friday! You should apply to attend— it sounds like it’s going to be a blast!!! 💥
We are excited to announce the Artificial Life, Intelligence, Complexity & Evolution (𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘) workshop. This first edition will be hosted in Copenhagen on the first week of February.
We will soon be announcing the guest speakers—Stay tuned!
Check our website for more information: aliceworkshop.org
We will soon be announcing the guest speakers—Stay tuned!
Check our website for more information: aliceworkshop.org
October 27, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The deadline is this Friday! You should apply to attend— it sounds like it’s going to be a blast!!! 💥
Reposted by Origin of Life Early-Career Network
How to select primitive / synthetic replicators based their photocatalysis? Check out our manuscript just published in @natcatal.nature.com :
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OoL #Origins #Prebiotic #Evolution
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OoL #Origins #Prebiotic #Evolution
Selection for photocatalytic function through Darwinian evolution of synthetic self-replicators - Nature Catalysis
Darwinian evolution has shaped life on our planet through natural selection. Here, the authors report on the combination of self-replication, mutation and protometabolism in an out-of-equilibrium abio...
www.nature.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:19 AM
How to select primitive / synthetic replicators based their photocatalysis? Check out our manuscript just published in @natcatal.nature.com :
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OoL #Origins #Prebiotic #Evolution
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OoL #Origins #Prebiotic #Evolution