Kaçar Lab at UW-Madison

@kacarlab.bsky.social

Past, Present and Future of Life
Here and Elsewhere
PI: Betül Kaçar
Account managed by lab members.
Latest paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-72133-0
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kacarlab.org

@kacarlab.bsky.social Pinned

Latest paper out in Nature Communications!

We find molecular dating evidence that life was using molybdenum and tungsten as far back as ~3.4 billion years ago, reshaping how we think about trace metals and early microbial evolution.

Read here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comBiological use of molybdenum and tungsten stems back to 3.4 billion years ago - Nature CommunicationsThe study shows that life began using molybdenum and tungsten enzymes as early as 3.7–3.1 billion years ago. Study reveals that key metabolic processes arose despite scarce metals and highlighting the...
@kacarlab.bsky.social

Graduate student Allie Beyer crushing it at the #ICRP2026 (International Conference on Retinal Proteins) meeting in Sienna, Italy. Way to go, Allie & way to go ancient rhodopsins! 👏👏👏@uwmadgsed.bsky.social @uwbact.bsky.social

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@organiccarbon.bsky.socialReposted by @kacarlab.bsky.social

I am heartbroken to share that our wonderful colleague Patricia Sanchez-Baracaldo has passed away. She was a lovely person and a brilliant colleague and she will forever be an inspiration.

royalsociety.org/about-us/who...

royalsociety.orgDr Patricia Sanchez-Baracaldo - Parent Carer Scientist | Royal SocietyThis profile of Dr Patricia Sanchez-Baracaldo is part of Parent Carer Scientist, a project showcasing the diversity of approaches to combining scientific careers with caring responsibilities.
@kacarlab.bsky.socialReposted by @kacarlab.bsky.social

Amazing! Latest spotlight in @cp-trendsbiochem.bsky.social highlights our lab's recent work on the origins of Mo/W!!!

A first for the lab, congrats, Aya and everyone! 🎉

www.cell.com/trends/bioch...

Link for the original paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

cell.comA phylogenomic analysis of ancient transition metal biochemistryDespite seemingly low levels of molybdenum (Mo)/tungsten (W) in the Earth’s ancient oceans, these metals play central roles in driving modern biogeochemical cycles. Klos et al. used phylogenomic appro...
@kacarlab.bsky.social

Amazing! Latest spotlight in @cp-trendsbiochem.bsky.social highlights our lab's recent work on the origins of Mo/W!!!

A first for the lab, congrats, Aya and everyone! 🎉

www.cell.com/trends/bioch...

Link for the original paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

cell.comA phylogenomic analysis of ancient transition metal biochemistryDespite seemingly low levels of molybdenum (Mo)/tungsten (W) in the Earth’s ancient oceans, these metals play central roles in driving modern biogeochemical cycles. Klos et al. used phylogenomic appro...
@stripplab.bsky.socialReposted by @kacarlab.bsky.social

Not to miss:

Protein Structure Evolution (ProSE) Seminar@proteinstructure.bsky.social

Join us next Tuesday, 5PM CET for our first ProSE after the summer! Betül Kaçar @kacarlab.bsky.social will talk about the origin and early evolution of ancient proteins! 📜🧬 tinyurl.com/prose-seminar2

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@karenlloyd.bsky.socialReposted by @kacarlab.bsky.social

Check out this awesome New Yorker article James Dinneen wrote about our work with Emil Ruff's NASA ICAR work and Yasube Yabe's D-SEIS project in the South African Gold Mine! It was a pleasure to have James join us, he's an intrepid traveler! tinyurl.com/4k4fh33r

tinyurl.comThe Mystery of Dark OxygenScientists once thought that life-sustaining oxygen existed only near Earth’s surface. Then they detected it deep underground.
@brunocuevaszuviria.bsky.socialReposted by @kacarlab.bsky.social

I am looking for ideas on how to teach coding ensuring that students don't simply use the AI. Searching it online turns out to only give me courses on "No-code AI" when my search queries are actually different forms of "No AI coding"

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