CO and CO2 are the two dominant carbon-bearing molecules in comae and have major roles in driving activity. Their relative abundances also provide strong observational constraints to models of solar […]
Comets and Asteroids
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Modelling The Water And Carbon Dioxide Production Rates Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
The European Space Agency Rosetta/Philae mission to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014-2016 is the most complete and diverse investigation of a comet carried out thus far. Yet, many physical and chemical […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Abundant Ammonium Hydrosulphide Embedded In Cometary Dust Grains
Ammonium hydrosulphide has long since been postulated to exist at least in certain layers of the giant planets. Its radiation products may be the reason for the red colour seen […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Chemistry Of Comet Atmospheres
The composition of cometary ices provides key information on the thermal and chemical properties of the outer parts of the protoplanetary disk where they formed 4.6 Gy ago. This chapter […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Shedding Light On Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's Unexpected Chemical Complexity
A team of researchers led by the University of Bern has for the first time identified an unexpected richness of complex organic molecules at a comet. This was achieved thanks […]
Posted inComets and Asteroids
Exocomets Size Distribution In The β Pictoris Planetary System
The star β Pictoris harbors a young planetary system, which is characterized by the presence of a gaseous and dusty debris disk, at least two massive planets and many minor […]
Posted inComets and Asteroids, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Journal articles, Press Release
Inferring Late Stage Enrichment of Exoplanet Atmospheres from Observed Interstellar Comets
The discovery of the first two interstellar comets implies that, on average, every star contributes a substantial amount of material to the galactic population by ejecting such bodies from the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, SETI & Technosignatures
On The Possibility Of An Artificial Origin For `Oumuamua
Science offers the privilege of following evidence, not prejudice. The first interstellar object discovered near Earth, Oumuamua, showed half a dozen anomalies relative to comets or asteroids in the Solar […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Neutral-Neutral Synthesis of Organic Molecules in Cometary Comae
Remote and in-situ observations of cometary gases have revealed the presence of a wealth of complex organic molecules, including carbon chains, alcohols, imines and the amino acid glycine. Such chemical […]
Posted inAstropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Comets and Asteroids, Commercial & Private Sector, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations
BioAsteroid Payload On Orbit
Inside one of the containers of this 40-cm-across miniature laboratory in orbit, a battle is set to start between asteroid-like fragments and rock-hungry microbes, to probe their use for space […]