World-leading scientists are pushing to ban “mirror life” research

A group of 38 international experts, including two Nobel laureates, are warning against further research into mirror-image biological molecules, which they say pose an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth.

Explaining the mirror-verse: All known life arises from 'right-handed' double-helix nucleotides in DNA and RNA, and 'left-handed' amino acids that come together to form proteins. Scientists are unsure why this phenomenon exists – but it represents a defining feature of all biological chemical reactions on Earth.

• In recent decades, scientists have theorized that a new kind of life could be created based on mirror-image alternatives of those molecules: left-handed nucleotides, and right-handed amino acids.

But…This mirror mirror on the life-wall could potentially lead to the downfall of us all, some say. In a new report, the group of scientists concluded mirror cells could likely avoid most of the barriers keeping ordinary organisms in check. For example: a potential mirror virus would evade not only humans' entire immune systems, but all organisms' immune defenses.

⏱️ Tick, tock: Experts say the creation of a viable, living mirror microbe is likely at least a decade away.