Oil-in-water droplets respond to chemical cues by forming arm-like extensions that resemble filopodia, which are used by living cells to sense and explore their environment.

A research team led by chemists at Penn State studies the droplets to glimpse how matter may have transitioned to life billions of years ago. The researchers have dissected the mechanism through which these arms form and shown that they respond directionally, growing toward or away from specific chemicals.

The research appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and will be featured on the front cover of an upcoming issue. The society also featured the research in its Research Headlines video series, which spotlights new and interesting work published in the society’s journals.