![Temporal evolution of selected species and D/H ratios during the cloud (top panels) and core stages (lower panels). Panels (a) and (e) show the abundances of selected species during the cloud and core stages, respectively. Solid, dashed, and dotted lines denote models with Z = 1, 0.5, and 0.2, respectively. The remaining panels show the temporal evolution of the D/H ratios and the H2 OPR for Z = 1 (b, f), Z = 0.5 (c, g), and Z = 0.2 (d, h). In all panels, time is normalized by τfreeze for the corresponding density and metallicity. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/High-water.png?resize=1200%2C719&ssl=1)
[astro-ph.EP] Recent JWST observations have revealed unusually high 12C/13C ratios in carbon-bearing molecules of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, consistent with formation in a lower-metallicity environment than the present-day local interstellar […]
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
![Occam’s razor-based deconvolution result of the subset of signals associated with CnHmN parent and fragment species detected by the DFMS on 3 August 2015. The measured signals (measured) are given in arbitrary units (a. u.) with 30 % error margins. The different contributions of the chosen candidate molecules are colour-coded according to their molecular structure – in shades of red and purple for chain-based molecules and in shades of green and blue for cyclic molecules. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Nitrogen.png?resize=1200%2C707&ssl=1)
Posted inComets and Asteroids
Nitrogen- And Nitrogen-oxygen-bearing Organic Molecules In Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: An Untargeted Investigation
[astro-ph.EP] Comets provide a unique window into the history of the Solar System as they carry some of the best-preserved material and make it available to in situ exploration.
Posted inComets and Asteroids
An Enriched Methane D/H Ratio in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS
[astro-ph.EP]. Interstellar objects are interlopers from other planetary systems, and their volatile compositions provide a glimpse into planet formation around their host star.
Posted inUncategorized
A Look At Eight Outbursts Of Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke
Cometary outbursts may be used as a means to infer the physical processes occurring on cometary nuclei. To that end, we studied eight outbursts of comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke identified between 2021 […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Isotopic Signature of Organic Molecules from Beyond the Solar System: An Enriched Methane D/H Ratio in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS
Interstellar objects are interlopers from other planetary systems, and their volatile compositions provide a glimpse into planet formation around their host star. We present near-infrared spectra of the coma of […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Unique Water Release Mechanism Uncovered In Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
A research team from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has conducted high-sensitivity radio observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using the Tianma Telescope, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Recent Chemo-morphological Coma Evolution of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
We present VLT/MUSE observations of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its 2021 perihelion passage, from which we generated simultaneous maps of dust, [OI], C2, NH2, and CN comae across 12 pre- and […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Optical And Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Of The Outbursting Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks
We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) observations of the outbursting, Halley-type comet 12P/Pons-Brooks.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Gas Giants, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report
Asteroids Fail To Retain Cometary Impact Signatures
A bombardment of comets is thought to have occurred in the inner solar system as a result of a dynamical instability among the giant planets after gas disk dispersal.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Hydroxylated Mg-rich Amorphous Silicates as Catalysts for Molecular Hydrogen Formation in the Interstellar Medium
We present results from an experimental study on the interaction of atomic deuterium with Mg-rich amorphous enstatite and forsterite type silicates. Infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the process.