Chirality-induced avalanche magnetization of magnetite by an RNA precursor

The research that has recently emerged somewhat surprisingly supports   the idea that the origin of homochirality in living systems was the magnetic field of earth after all. This is surprising because   earlier work had shown that the magnetic field is far too weak to have any effect. In a recent work researchers showed that if you take a magnetic material and sprinkle   organic molecules of both chirality onto it, then one handedness is 50% more likely   to stick. This is very curious because the molecules themselves aren’t magnetic.

The idea is that this preferential accumulation of one handedness   on some kinds of rocks would have made it much easier for complex molecules to be formed there. The  researchers say it’s ultimately to do with the spin-structure of the electrons in the shells.  However, this leaves the question what the magnetization of the rock has to do with   the magnetic field of earth. Another article now argues that the preferential attachment of some molecules   feeds back onto the magnetic material, making it more strongly magnetic. So basically, they say   that some magnetic materials amplify the magnetic field of earth and that kickstarts the process.