Past, Present and Future of Life
Here and Elsewhere
PI: Betül Kaçar
Account managed by lab members.
Latest paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67423-y
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kacarlab.org
Kaçar Lab at UW-Madison
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Checkout our latest paper, tracing the history and evolution of rare metal utilization across billions of years. Focus: Molybdenum and Tungsten!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A study in Nature Communications shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago, It also reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals, highlighting the early adaptability of microbial life. 🧪
🚨New pub is live! It was really fun to write this with my friend @carolinamicro.bsky.social. If you're curious about how phylogenomics has shaped our understanding of early life and want guidance on how to do this kind of work yourself, then this review is for you. Enjoy! 🚀
doi.org/10.1093/jamb...
Maybe just me but this is spectacular.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ug...
Klos, A.S., Sobol, M.S., Boden, J.S. et al. Biological use of molybdenum and tungsten stems back to 3.4 billion years ago. Nat Commun 17, 3943 (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s414...
NASA Research Shows Early Life Relied on Rare Metal - NASA Science
Molybdenum doesn't pop to mind when we think of elements biological system needs, nor does tungsten. But for some of the earliest forms of life on Earth, they might have been vital. 🧪⚒️
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-72133-0
Abstract submissions for the Astrobiology Graduate Conference 2026 are open! Deadline is May 29th; see our website for more details! 🌵🪐🦠
#abgradcon #abgradcon2026 #astrobiology
Latest paper out in Nature Communications!
We find molecular dating evidence that life was using molybdenum and tungsten as far back as ~3.4 billion years ago, reshaping how we think about trace metals and early microbial evolution.
Read here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Kaçar Lab at UW-Madison
June Astford
Nature Portfolio
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Jérôme OLLIER
AbGradCon
Kaçar Lab at UW-Madison
Morgan Sobol
Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️
A study in Nature Communications shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago, It also reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals, highlighting the early adaptability of microbial life. 🧪
go.nature.com
The study shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago. Study reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals and highlighting the early adaptability of microbial life.
The study shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago. Study reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals and highlighting the early adaptability of microbial life.
Abstract. Since its origins, life has been profoundly interconnected with Earth’s history. The genomes that underpin the diversity of modern life forms hav
The study shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago. Study reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals and highlighting the...
doi.org
The study shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago. Study reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals and highlighting the...
NASA-funded scientists have discovered that life on Earth over 3 billion years ago relied on the metal molybdenum, which was incredibly scarce in the environment at the time. The study, published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, is the first to show that molybdenum was used by ancient life this far back in our planet's history.
