astorchemistry Archives

Left: integrated emission maps of the H2CO 4(0,4)-3(0,3) line for the observed sources. Right: peak intensity emission for the same line. Continuum emission at 0.8 mm contours is overlaid to compare with the formaldehyde emission in the disks. Beams are illustrated on the bottom-right with solid white for continuum images and dashed lines for line emission. The bottom-left bar represents a respective 100 au physical scale for each source. For most disks, there are no clear correspondences between the dust continuum contours and the integrated maps.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

exoALMA. XXIV. Formaldehyde Emission in Protoplanetary Disks of exoALMA Compared with Their Properties and Dynamical State

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026

The presence of asymmetries and substructures in protoplanetary disks, revealed by both dust and gas emission, highlights the potential interplay and the broader connection between chemistry and dynamics in disk […]

Different Flavors of Planets -- Grok via Astrobiology.com

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Press Release

Why Only A Small Number Of Planets Are Suitable For Life

by Keith CowingFebruary 10, 2026February 10, 2026

For life to develop on a planet, certain chemical elements are needed in sufficient quantities. Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential. Phosphorus is vital for the formation of DNA and RNA, […]

The integrated intensity images of CH3OH transitions overlaid with dust continuum (black contours at [5, 15, 45, 135, 405]σ and σ = 0.10 K). The integration intervals span from −2.5 to +12.5 km s−1. -- astro-ph.SR

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

HOPS-288: A Laboratory For Complex Organics In Proto-multiple Systems

by Keith CowingJanuary 16, 2026January 16, 2026

Complex organic molecules (COMs) in young stellar objects (YSOs) have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their potential connection to pre-biotic chemistry and their utility as tracers of […]

Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope of the dwarf galaxy Sextans A reveal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), large carbon-based molecules that can be a signifier of star formation. The inset at the top right zooms in on those PAHs, which are represented in green. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Elizabeth Tarantino (STScI), Martha Boyer (STScI), Julia Roman-Duval (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Astrochemistry: JWST Finds Early-Universe Analog’s Unexpected Talent For Making Dust

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2026January 12, 2026

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive galaxies near the Milky […]

Astrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Conferences and Meetings, Status Report

Lecture: From Chemistry to Life: Clues from Earth, Experiments, and Space

by Keith CowingSeptember 12, 2025September 12, 2025

Discover how simple chemistry can make the building blocks of life. These reactions may be widespread in our solar system, including on worlds that may support life today or in […]

An SwRI-led team used Webb telescope observations (white) to detect methane gas on the distant dwarf planet Makemake. Sharp emission peaks near 3.3 microns reveal methane in the gas phase above Makemake’s surface. A continuum model (cyan) is overlaid for comparison; the gas emission peaks are identified where the observed spectrum rises above the continuum. An artistic rendering of Makemake’s surface is shown in the background. Courtesy of S. Protopapa, I. Wong/SwRI/STScI/NASA/ESA/CSA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Methane Gas Discovered On Makemake

by Keith CowingSeptember 11, 2025

A Southwest Research Institute-led team has reported the first detection of gas on the distant dwarf planet Makemake, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This discovery makes Makemake only […]

Schematic of the GC-Orbitrap-IRMS instrumental setup: (A) GC–Orbitrap-IRMS mode, (B) the GC–SL–Orbitrap-IRMS mode, and (C) He–MS mode.-- Rapid Communications In Mass Spectrometry (via PubMed)

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Stable Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Amino Acids by Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: Application for Extraterrestrial Samples

by Keith CowingAugust 28, 2025August 28, 2025

Background Obtaining isotopic data on soluble organic compounds, such as amino acids, in extraterrestrial samples is crucial for understanding their origins, prebiotic chemistry, and potential contamination. Conventional GC‐IRMS requires grams […]

Compilation of pebble mass flux vs. time evolutions. Solid lines show models developed in this study for various gap positions (see Sect. 3.1), which can be compared to mass fluxes required in pebble accretion simulations to form diverse inner planetary systems (dashed area, see M. Lambrechts et al. 2019) and the pebble mass flux inferred for the inner solar system using models capable of matching the NC/CC isotopic dichotomy (red dashed, see T. Lichtenberg et al. 2021). Symbols show ages and cold water masses of all 21 objects in our sample computed from JWST/MIRI line ratios (Table 1) in combination with Eq. 4 (see Appendix A), and the left and right y-axes are related through Eq. 3. Symbol color corresponds to inner gap position as obtained from high-spatial-resolution ALMA observations (see Sect. 2) and error-bars reflect uncertainties in measured line ratios. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Status Report

Cosmic Cascades: How Disk Substructure Regulates The Flow Of Water To Inner Planetary Systems

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2025August 15, 2025

The influx of icy pebbles to the inner regions of protoplanetary disks constitutes a fundamental ingredient in most planet formation theories.

Stacked images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS acquired with UVOT obtained on July 31 and Aug 1, 2025. The image acquired with the V filter is shown on the left, the UVW1 image is shown on the right. Apertures used are shown in red, with background sky annulus in dotted white. The UVW1 aperture is ≈ 20, 000 km, background annulus radii are 60,000 and 80,000 km. Ticks along the bottom represent 20,000 km. Color scales are optimized for viewing. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Water Detection in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

by Keith CowingAugust 7, 2025August 7, 2025

We report the first detection of water activity in the third confirmed interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, based on ultraviolet imaging with the Neil Gehrels-Swift Observatory.

Summary of the reactions studied in this work between •CH3 + •CN on water and carbon monoxide ice surfaces. The first line indicates the possible outcomes of diffusive chemistry, while the second indicates the products after the reaction with one of the ice molecules from the surface. Notice in the chemisorption initiated products can proceed from two different mechanisms: chemisorption followed by Habstraction (cyanic and isocyanic acid) or chemisorption followed by radical-radical coupling (acetimidic acid and acetyl cyanide). -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Interstellar Chemistry of CN Radicals on Ices: The Formation of CH3CN and CH3NC and Potential Connection to Acetamide

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2025June 12, 2025

Context. Among the most significant chemical functional groups of interstellar molecules are the class of nitriles, which are proposed as key prebiotic molecules due to their chemical connection to the […]

astorchemistry

exoALMA. XXIV. Formaldehyde Emission in Protoplanetary Disks of exoALMA Compared with Their Properties and Dynamical State

Why Only A Small Number Of Planets Are Suitable For Life

HOPS-288: A Laboratory For Complex Organics In Proto-multiple Systems

Astrochemistry: JWST Finds Early-Universe Analog’s Unexpected Talent For Making Dust

Lecture: From Chemistry to Life: Clues from Earth, Experiments, and Space

Methane Gas Discovered On Makemake

Tricorder Tech: Stable Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Amino Acids by Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: Application for Extraterrestrial Samples

Cosmic Cascades: How Disk Substructure Regulates The Flow Of Water To Inner Planetary Systems

Water Detection in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

Interstellar Chemistry of CN Radicals on Ices: The Formation of CH3CN and CH3NC and Potential Connection to Acetamide

Roman Space Telescope: Enabling Images Of Distant Worlds

NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Cooperative Agreement Notice (NNH26ZDA016C) Final Text And Due Dates

Interstellar Aromatic Infrared Bands: IR Absorption Spectroscopy Of The Lowest Triplet State Of Naphthalene

The Highly Unusual Behavior And Chemical Composition Of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov

Volatile Depletion In Rocky Planets As A Chemical Fingerprint Of Hybrid Accretion