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Openai/69737393-5604-8006-a65c-f09cb0d74f29
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===== What makes nitrogenase even more astonishing is how it works: ===== * It breaks one of the strongest chemical bonds in nature (N≡N) * It does so at room temperature and pressure * It uses a bizarre metal core (often molybdenum, sometimes vanadium or iron) * It hates oxygen — oxygen permanently damages it That last point is wild: ➡️ Life invented an enzyme essential for life before oxygen-rich atmospheres ➡️ Later life had to invent elaborate hacks (root nodules, protective proteins, night-time fixation) just to keep nitrogenase safe It’s evolution layering solutions on top of an ancient, fragile miracle.
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