Objects from interstellar space, such as rogue planets and asteroids, can become permanently trapped in the Sun’s orbit as a result of the combined gravitational effects of the Sun and […]
Interstellar
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Astrochemistry and Astrophysics Interplay: The Pillars of Creation – Where Embryonic Stars Form
Made famous in 1995 by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the Pillars of Creation in the heart of the Eagle Nebula have captured imaginations worldwide with their arresting, ethereal beauty.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Binding Energies of Ethanol and Ethylamine on Interstellar Water Ices: Synergy Between Theory and Experiments
Experimental and computational chemistry are two disciplines to conduct research in Astrochemistry, providing essential reference data for both astronomical observations and modeling. These approaches not only mutually support each other, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Chemical Evolution of Complex Organic Molecules in Turbulent Protoplanetary Disks: Effect of stochastic UV irradiation
We investigate the chemical evolution of complex organic molecules (COMs) in turbulent disks using gas-ice chemical reaction network simulations.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Low Temperature Formation of Pyridine and (iso)quinoline Via Neutral Neutral Reactions
Aromatic molecules represent fundamental building blocks in prebiotic chemistry and are contemplated as vital precursors to DNA and RNA nitrogen bases.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Brown Dwarfs, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Between Stars And Planets: Brown Dwarfs in IC 348
Not quite stars, not quite planets — brown dwarfs are objects that fall in between. Within the star cluster shown in this image, Webb observed the tiniest, free-floating brown dwarf […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Interstellar, Status Report
The Earliest Phases of CNO Enrichment in Galaxies
Context. The recent detection of nitrogen-enhanced, metal-poor galaxies at high redshift by the James Webb Space Telescope has sparked renewed interest in exploring the chemical evolution of carbon, nitrogen, and […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Interstellar, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
A Census of Sun’s Ancestors and their Contributions to the Solar System Chemical Composition
In this work we compute the rates and numbers of different types of stars and phenomena (SNe, novae, white dwarfs, merging neutron stars, black holes) that contributed to the chemical […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Astrochemistry Update: Hubble Observes Infant Stars In Molecular Cloud RCW 7
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image presents a visually striking collection of interstellar gas and dust. Named RCW 7, the nebula is located just over 5,300 light-years from Earth in […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
OH Mid-infrared Emission as a Diagnostic of H2O UV Photodissociation. III. Application to Planet-forming Disks
JWST gives a unique access to the physical and chemical structure of inner disks (<10~au), where the majority of the planets are forming. However, the interpretation of mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectra […]