Molybdenum Was Scarce, But Early Life Chose It Anyway

Molybdenum is a critical metal and plays important roles in cellular functions. Without it, complex life on Earth may not be possible. New research shows that despite Mo's scarcity on early Earth, simple life chose it over other metals because of its effectiveness. Image Credit: NASA.

Life on Earth depends on a critical dance of elements throughout the biosphere. One of these elements is Molybdenum, a transition metal that speeds up important biochemical reactions in cells. New research shows that despite its ancient scarcity, and despite the greater availability of other, similar metals, life "chose" Molybdenum earlier than thought.

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