Reposted by Joseph MoranPhilip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 07/10/2026It feels very good to have been the editor who handled Soai's 1995 paper in Nature on autocatalytic amplification of an enantiomeric excess - now known as the Soai reaction. This seemed a curiosity at the time, but we clearly made the right call. 310719
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 07/10/2026In honour of today’s Nobel Prize to Kagan and Soai, here’s a 2022 perspective on the debated mechanism of the Soai reaction from former group member @yannickgeiger.bsky.social pubs.rsc.org/cs/article/5...pubs.rsc.org 1202
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 22/08/2026@stephy.bsky.social Please add me to ChemFolk. Thanks! 100
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 21/08/2026One of my favorite science writers has covered our recent paper, in collaboration with the group of Bill Martin. 161
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Two origins of life? www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...science.orgIntermediate stages in the origin of metabolism at a phosphorylating hydrothermal ventEnzymatic metabolism emerged from metal-catalyzed, aqueous reactions of H2, CO2, NH3 and phosphite at a hydrothermal vent. 0173
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Congrats to recent PhD graduate Maciej Piejko for winning the thesis prize from the Fondation Jean-Marie Lehn! Your future is bright! fondation-lehn.fr/prix-de-thes...fondation-lehn.frPrix de thèse 2026 : la Fondation Jean-Marie Lehn récompense deux travaux interdisciplinaires en chimie-santé et science quantiqueLa Fondation Jean-Marie Lehn a une nouvelle fois salué l'excellence scientifique en remettant son prix de thèse à deux jeunes chercheurs prometteurs de l'U 031
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 29/06/2026A nice News highlight in @science.org on the work of my collaborator Bill Martin (we pitched in on one of the pre-prints). www.science.org/content/arti...science.orgMetal-driven chemical reaction in deep sea may explain origin of lifeGroup offers new scenario for how cells came to rely on phosphate molecules to build DNA and store energy 0122
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 29/06/2026Three back-to-back-to-back conference is probably too much of a good thing, but thoroughly enjoyed the Reaction Mechanisms Conference in Holland, MI, the GRC Metallocofactors in Portland, ME , and the French-American Chemical Symposium in Ottawa (photo from FACS below). 141
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 02/06/2026www.quantamagazine.org/the-dirt-tha...quantamagazine.orgThe Dirt That Refused To Die | Quanta MagazineLifelike biochemistry continued to unfold in sterilized soil for six years, pointing to a metabolic theory for how biology began. 010
Reposted by Joseph MoranJoseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Enzymes use strong electric fields to catalyze metabolism. Could abiotic electric fields have kickstarted a proto-metabolism before enzymes? @noeminogal.bsky.social's paper in @jacs.acspublications.org hints that, at least for pyridoxal biosynthesis, the answer might be yes. doi.org/10.1021/jacs... 1182
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Enzymes use strong electric fields to catalyze metabolism. Could abiotic electric fields have kickstarted a proto-metabolism before enzymes? @noeminogal.bsky.social's paper in @jacs.acspublications.org hints that, at least for pyridoxal biosynthesis, the answer might be yes. doi.org/10.1021/jacs... 1182
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Thanks for sending Jon our way, John. We’ll take good care of him! 110
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Had a great visit at McGill Chemistry in my home town of Montréal. Thanks to Thomas Preston for hosting, Janine Mauzeroll for the invitation, and everyone else for their time. 081
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 19/12/2025Yes, indeed! First time in Hawaii and at this conference. 020
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 19/12/2025The jet lag helped the family get up early on Tuesday and we made it to the top of Diamond Head just after sunrise. 141
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 19/12/2025Enjoying science and (occasional) sun at @pacifichem.bsky.social Thanks to Yoshiyuki Kageyama and Neal Devaraj for organizing the session on "Frontiers in Dynamic Supramolecular Chemistry: Towards Practical Functions". 162
Reposted by Joseph MoranDave Leitch and the Leitch Lab @leitchlab.bsky.social · 15/11/2025We are on a roll with hiring here at @uvic.ca Chemistry! Experimental chemistry research programs of all types are in scope. See Saurabh's note below for details/advertisement link! (and don't let his self deprecation fool you - he's already made faculty meetings 20% more inspiring! 🙃) 043
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 12/11/2025Great news for astrobiology in Ontario and Canada! www.cbc.ca/news/science...cbc.caQuest to find another Earth brings renowned researcher home to Toronto | CBC NewsCanadian astronomical research is getting a big boost with the return of Sara Seager to Canada after around 20 years at MIT. Her research includes looking for life in the clouds of Venus and searching... 040
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 31/10/2025They say grad students start to resemble their chemicals. Very creative, Jack! Happy Halloween! 0483
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 29/10/2025Yes! I have been advocating for this viewpoint for years. 130
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 16/10/202510 days left to apply. A view from my 13 min bike commute downtown - not always possible in North America! 051
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 09/09/2025Past and present collide as @rjmayer.bsky.social and @yannickgeiger.bsky.social, now both leading groups of their own, meet @noeminogal.bsky.social at @esor2025.bsky.social in beautiful Padova. 063
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 09/09/2025A great start to @esor2025.bsky.social in beauitiful Padova today. An introduction by our conference chair @leonardprins.bsky.social 052
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 04/09/2025Yes, unfortunately not for me either, as much as I'd like it to be. Chem Twitter/X 2017-2023 was wild. Almost no engagement now on either platform. 270
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 27/08/2025@uottawa.ca is hiring a Full Professor and Tier 1 CRC in Sustainable Catalyst Design. Ability to teach inorganic and organometallic chemistry especially welcome. Comes with dedicated funding, teaching reduction, and substantial startup funds. Ottawa is a great place to live! tinyurl.com/bdcm5hw6tinyurl.comTier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Catalyst Design - Ottawa, Ontario (CA) job with University of Ottawa, Ontario CANADA | 12844053The University of Ottawa invites applications for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Catalyst Design. The successful candidate wil... 01815
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 04/08/2025www.quantamagazine.org/at-17-hannah...quantamagazine.orgAt 17, Hannah Cairo Solved a Major Math Mystery | Quanta MagazineAfter finding the homeschooling life confining, the teen petitioned her way into a graduate class at Berkeley, where she ended up disproving a 40-year-old conjecture. 010
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 19/06/2025This was a great kick-off and I wish the team much luck moving forward! 160
Reposted by Joseph MoranGroupe thématique chimie des origines @gt-chimie-origines.bsky.social · 19/06/2025Et pour terminer la journée, Joseph Moran nous parle de l'origine du métabolisme. @gregoiredanger.bsky.social @pauline-poinot.bsky.social @ytrolez.bsky.social @moranlabchem.bsky.social 041
Reposted by Joseph MoranJohn Hayward 🏳️🌈 @johnjhayward.bsky.social · 16/06/2025In the Interdisciplinarity in Organic Chemistry symposium at #CSC2025. Started out with @moranlabchem.bsky.social telling us about the metabolic origins of life, and now hearing from Eda Kilic from @theprattgroup.bsky.social about organelle targeting dyes. Organic chemistry is so cool 🥰 021
Reposted by Joseph MoranScott McIndoe @mcindoe.bsky.social · 15/06/2025What better to do on the morning of #CSC2025 than explore some Ottawa trails with @leitchlab.bsky.social, @nelsonyslam.bsky.social and @hoflab.bsky.social ? 0184
Reposted by Joseph MoranKnowable Magazine @knowablemag.bsky.social · 11/05/2025At the dawn of life, did metabolism come first? Some scientists propose that in the beginning, geochemistry gave way to biochemistry — with no genetic material necessary. Only later did RNA and DNA appear.knowablemagazine.orgAt the dawn of life, did metabolism come first?Some scientists propose that in the beginning, geochemistry gave way to biochemistry — with no genetic material necessary. Only later did RNA and DNA appear. 0101
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 08/05/2025Was a JSP Fellow more than a decade ago and it was so critical to integration of this Canadian (who barely knew anyone on the continent) into the European scene. Thank you, @swisschemistry.bsky.social 0121
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 08/05/2025It feels strange to be in Switzerland in April/May for something other than the #Burgenstock meeting, but it was a pleasure to be the external speaker at the last retreat of the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering in Grindelwald. 080
Reposted by Joseph MoranDavid Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 04/05/2025I think a lot about what Carl Sagan said in one of his final interviews. 246188186425
Reposted by Joseph MoranCosta Samaras @costasamaras.com · 29/04/2025I check the little screen, I check the big screen, I check the watch screen, I check the tablet screen. I check the screen that reminds me of the good times, I check the screen that reminds me of the better times. 163125442620
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 25/04/2025Things are moving fast on this topic. Zare's team observes "microlightning" between charged droplets using a high-speed camera. The charges build up during the spraying process itself. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...science.orgSpraying of water microdroplets forms luminescence and causes chemical reactions in surrounding gasSpraying water microdroplets causes an electrical discharge between oppositely charged droplets that enables chemical reactions. 170
Reposted by Joseph MoranTobias Schnitzer – Group Leader @ Uni Freiburg @schnitzerlab.bsky.social · 23/04/2025🎉 Big day for our group: our first publication is out! Tom did a fantastic job highlighting current trends & opportunities in peptide catalysis — now published in Chem Catalysis (open access). Huge congrats, Tom! www.cell.com/chem-catalys...cell.comPeptide catalysis: Trends and opportunitiesPeptides are highly selective organocatalysts, with intrinsic modularity allowing precise control over structure and function. Advances in peptide synthesis, biotechnology, and cheminformatics will en... 1335
Reposted by Joseph MoranKnowable Magazine @knowablemag.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Some scientists propose that in the beginning, geochemistry gave way to biochemistry — with no genetic material necessary. Only later did RNA and DNA appear. ✍️ Viviane Callierknowablemagazine.orgAt the dawn of life, did metabolism come first?Some scientists propose that in the beginning, geochemistry gave way to biochemistry — with no genetic material necessary. Only later did RNA and DNA appear. 096
Reposted by Joseph MoranuOttawa Science @uottawascience.bsky.social · 16/04/2025From cutting-edge materials to the origins of life, plus how climate change affects everything—from mountain peaks to your plate—learn about the discoveries that are shaping our future. Don’t miss our New Professor Lecture! 🌍🔬 ✨ www.uottawa.ca/faculty-scie... 052
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Thank you for the kind highlight of our work. There is so much more to come. 1121
Reposted by Joseph MoranDaumann Lab @daumannl.bsky.social · 28/03/2025Influence of Rare-Earth-Elements on Prebiotic Reaction Networks Resembling the Biologically Relevant Krebs Cycle | ChemRxiv - doi.org/10.26434/che... by @joguti.bsky.social is our groups first contribution to the OoL field! We would love some feedback #chemsky 🤓🧪 1249
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 28/03/2025This is a big nothingburger. It’s all about context. His PhD advisor is right. He cites the work in question 20 times and mentions it extensively. Obviously no intent to take credit for those ideas. Probably should have used quotation marks in some places. That’s about it. Who wrote this article? 120
Joseph Moran @moranlabchem.bsky.social · 27/03/2025I join researchers from Coast to Coast to Coast to demonstrate and exercise my voting power. In #Elxn45, I will vote for the Member of Parliament who recognises the importance of research to Canada’s success and prioritizes excellence in research. #ResearchersVote #VotonsRecherche #CdnPoli 1113
Reposted by Joseph MoranUlrich Hintermair @hintermairlab.bsky.social · 20/03/2025academic.oup.com/brain/articl...academic.oup.comOn the responsibilities of intellectuals and the rise of bullshit jobs in universitiesYou may never have considered yourself to be one. Why would you? But if you’re reading this, there is more than a likelihood that you are one. If you’re a 284