Autocatalysis

Autocatalysis is a process where a chemical reaction produces a substance that speeds up its own production. In other words, as the reaction progresses, it creates more of a catalyst that accelerates the process, leading to a self-amplifying effect. This positive feedback loop can cause the reaction to accelerate rapidly once it starts. Autocatalytic reactions are important in fields like chemistry, biology, and systems science, as they can explain processes such as enzyme functions, the origin of life, and certain patterns in complex systems.