The twisted problem of chemical chirality

The twisted problem of chemical chirality

Imagine a pair of molecules with identical atoms and identical chemical bonds. You’d think both molecules would behave in exactly the same way, right? Not necessarily. Meet the mirror molecules, a chemical phenomenon known as chirality. This article originally appeared in the Cosmos Print Magazine, March 2025. When British skier Alain Baxter won a bronze medal, it was a personal best for him – and a first for the UK in skiing. Baxter came third …