he effect that nuclear spins have on certain biological processes has been observed for the first time by researchers in Israel. The team led by Yossi Paltiel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem performed two experiments that showed how interactions between oxygen isotopes and chiral biomolecules depend on the isotopes’ nuclear spin.

Many processes in the natural world are affected by the spin of electrons — including photosynthesis, and the ability of some animals to sense Earth’s magnetic field. Until recently, however, it had been assumed that the spins of nuclei do not affect biological processes.

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