Chiral asymmetry in nuclear beta decay

Nuclear β decay can be instrumental to electroweak unification studies by observation of the degree of longitudinal polarization of β rays from allowed Fermi and from allowed Gamow-Teller decays. Possible deviations from maximality of this polarization bear on a fundamental question: is there a manifest left-right symmetry, indicated by right-handed currents and V+A admixture to a dominant V-A interaction? Discussed are absolute β- and relative β+ measurements. The β- measurements are of long-standing age; the β+ measurements are recent and not yet fully analyzed. A striking consequence of the polarization may be an intimate relation with the origin of life: can it be that the chirality of biomolecules is determined by the longitudinal polarization of β rays? 20 references, 9 figures