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Magnetism shapes DNA in space

Look at the shot below closely and you'll see the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, the blueprint for life.

But this is a DNA nebula. It's 80 light years long, travelling at 1000 kilometers per second and located near the center of our galaxy.

060315_dna_nebula_02.jpg

It doesn't take much to make a DNA nebula. All you need is a very strong magnetic field, a rotating body, and a nebulous cloud of material positioned just right in space.

It's debatable whether you'll be able to replicate the effect with a couple of magnets in your basement.

You can learn a lot more about it here.

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