Self-assembly into complex supramolecular arrangements, played a crucial role in the evolution of life. Metal ions are fundamental elements for the maintenance of living systems to control for example the electrochemical environment. It was proposed, that the association of large, poorly solvated ions (radius about 0.2 nm) – known as chaotropes – in water could be a first step towards the origin of life. However, the role of the chaotropic effect in self-assembling life was never demonstrated experimentally. Here, we present a photoredox-responsive inorganic-organic hybrid system, based on a highly chaotropic polyoxometalate (radius about 0.5 nm) and an oligomeric propylene glycol, as a model for prebiotic self-assembly. Indeed, the assembly-disassembly of this system synchronizes with day/night cycle. Therefore, these supramolecular aggregates adapt to environmental conditions and subsequently display properties characteristic of emerging life. The availability of metalate- or thiometalate-ion species ( i.e. WO 4 2- and WS 4 2-), forming polyoxometalates or polythiometalates under acidic conditions, and oligomeric organic biomolecules (oligonucleotides or oligopeptides) in the prebiotic ocean suggests that a similar scenario may have taken place in early life evolution. Our findings show how the chaotropic effect could have played a role for the origin of life on earth.