The identification of the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) remains to be established, with the exception of five bands attributed to C60+, although it is generally agreed that […]
astrochemistry
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
The Carbon-to-Oxygen Ratio: Implications For The Spectra of Hydrogen-dominated Exoplanet Atmospheres
We present results from one-dimensional atmospheric simulations investigating the effect of varying the carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio on the thermal structure, chemical composition and transmission and emission spectra, for irradiated hydrogen-dominated […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Desorption Kinetics and Binding Energies of Small Hydrocarbons
Small hydrocarbons are an important organic reservoir in protostellar and protoplanetary environments. Constraints on desorption temperatures and binding energies of such hydrocarbons are needed for accurate predictions of where these […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Policy, Press Release, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans
Report: An Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It is an inherently interdisciplinary field that encompasses astronomy, biology, geology, heliophysics, and planetary […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Trihydrogen Cation (H3+): The Starting Point For Almost All Molecules In The Universe
Typically, H3+ is formed by collisions involving hydrogen gas, but its chemistry at the molecular level is relatively unknown. When organic molecules are hit by a laser pulse, they are […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Detectable Molecular Features Above Hydrocarbon Haze Via Transmission Spectroscopy With JWST
Some of the exoplanets so far observed show featureless or flat transmission spectra, possibly indicating the existence of clouds and/or haze in their atmospheres. Thanks to its large aperture size […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Contacts of Water Ice in Protoplanetary Disks – Laboratory Experiments
Water ice is abundant in protoplanetary disks. Its sticking properties are therefore important during phases of collisional growth. In this work, we study the sticking and rolling of 1.1 mm […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Interstellar ices: a possible scenario for symmetry breaking of extraterrestrial chiral organic molecules of prebiotic interest
In the laboratory, the photo-and thermochemical evolution of ices, made of simple molecules of astrophysical relevance, always leads to the formation of semi-refractory water-soluble organic residues. Targeted searches for specific […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Searching For Stable Fullerenes In Space With Computational Chemistry
We report a computational study of the stability and infrared (IR) vibrational spectra of neutral and singly ionised fullerene cages containing between 44 and 70 carbon atoms. The stability is […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Retreating Snow Line Reveals Organic Molecules Around Young Star
Young stars are often surrounded by a protoplanetary disk where planets are forming. Astronomers study the composition of protoplanetary disks to better understand how planets, like Earth, formed and evolved […]