Certain molecules, when they're formed organically, have a right-handed twist (IIRC). If they're formed via non-organic processes, twist to the left. I don't quite remember all the specifics surrounding why this happens*, but it's one of those wierd coincidences that works well here. Honestly, I didn't realize that it was possible to see that in the reflected light across distances in light years, but that's damned cool.

*Sure, I could look it up. But that's a whole lot of work. I think chemistry's neat, but not enough to read up on it that much.

Well, from how I understand it, inorganic processes driven by chaos alone tend to be fairly random when it comes to left- or right-handed molecules. The defining feature of life (as we know it) is self-replication, right down to the molecular level, and as life grows and spreads, more and more molecules will begin aligning in the same direction, as more molecules become components of living creatures, and the breaking down and rebuilding of them at random occurs less often in comparison.

Tat - I might get bored enough to confirm one of our stories, just because it'd be useful to know. Unfortunately, my attention span just ain't having it right n...

hey. look. shiny things.