The Digital Press

The universe and its mirror image differ fundamentally due to chirality, where objects and particles have distinct left- or right-handed forms that cannot be perfectly superimposed.

Why it matters: Chirality influences chemistry, biology, and particle physics, shaping the behavior of molecules, life, and fundamental forces.

The big picture: Life uses only right-handed sugars, and the weak force acts only on left-handed particles, revealing deep asymmetries in nature.

The stakes: Synthetic mirror-lifeforms could evade immune defenses, raising safety concerns about their creation and potential environmental impact.

Commenters say: Readers find the link between everyday chirality and deep physics fascinating, with some intrigued by implications for origins of life and particle physics.