Magnetism, entropy, and the first nano-machines

TL;DR

This paper proposes that early bio-molecular motors may have originated from magnetically structured phases formed by super-paramagnetic particles on the ocean floor, involving magnetic interactions, entropy changes, and quantum effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hypothesis that magnetically structured phases facilitated motor-like diffusion and energy conversion in early life origins, linking magnetism to biological motor mechanisms.

Findings

Magnetically structured phases could host diffusion of ligand-bound particles.

Magnetic interactions can break detailed balance and create asymmetry.

Magnetocaloric effects enable entropy-temperature exchange.

Abstract

The efficiency of bio-molecular motors stems from reversible interactions $\sim$ $k_B T$; weak bonds stabilizing intermediate states (enabling $direct$ conversion of chemical into mechanical energy). For their (unknown) origins, we suggest that a magnetically structured phase (MSP) formed via accretion of super-paramagnetic particles (S-PPs) by magnetic rocks on the Hadean Ocean floor had hosted motor-like diffusion of ligand-bound S-PPs through its template-layers; its ramifications range from optical activity to quantum coherence. A gentle flux gradient offers both detailed-balance breaking non-equilibrium and $asymmetry$ to a magnetic dipole, undergoing infinitesimal spin-alignment changes. Periodic perturbation of this background by local H-fields of template-partners can lead to periodic high and low-template affinity states, due to the dipole's magnetic degree of freedom. An accompanying magnetocaloric effect allows interchange between system-entropy and bath temperature. We speculate on a magnetic reproducer in a setting close to the mound-scenario of Russell and coworkers that could evolve bio- ratchets.