Researchers have for the first time shown that ribose, a sugar that is one of the building blocks of genetic material in living organisms, may have formed in cometary ices. […]
astrochemistry
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Isotopic ratios of H, C, N, O, and S in comets C/2012 F6 and C/2014 Q2
The apparition of bright comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) in March-April 2013 and January 2015, combined with the improved observational capabilities of submillimeter facilities, offered an opportunity […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Dust and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in the Pre-Transitional Disk around HD 169142
The pre-transitional disk around the Herbig Ae star HD 169142 shows a complex structure of possible ongoing planet formation in dust thermal emission from the near infrared (IR) to millimeter […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
How Terrestrial Life's Building Blocks May Have First Formed
How did life begin? This is one of the most fundamental questions scientists puzzle over. To address it, they have to look not just back to the primordial Earth, but […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Water and Acetaldehyde in HH212: The First Hot Corino in Orion
Aims: Using the unprecedented combination of high resolution and sensitivity offered by ALMA, we aim to investigate whether and how hot corinos, circumstellar disks, and ejected gas are related in […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Ethyl Alcohol and Sugar in Comet C/2014Q2 (Lovejoy)
The presence of numerous complex organic molecules defined as those containing six or more atoms) around protostars shows that star formation is accompanied by an increase of molecular complexity. These […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Microhydration Effect on Properties of First Branched Interstellar Molecule (i-PrCN)
In this work, we have focused on microsolvation of isopropyl cyanide (i-PrCN) as isopropyl cyanide has been recently detected in interstellar space and is of great importance from the astrochemical […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Influence of the UV Environment on the Synthesis of Prebiotic Molecules
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is common to most planetary environments, and could play a key role in the chemistry of molecules relevant to abiogenesis (prebiotic chemistry). In this work, we explore […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Effects of Turbulent Dust Grain Motion to Interstellar Chemistry
Theoretical studies have revealed that dust grains are usually moving fast through the turbulent interstellar gas, which could have significant effects upon molecular cloud chemistry by modifying grain accretion. This […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Comet Lovejoy Observed Releasing Sugar and Alcohol Into Space
Comet Lovejoy lived up to its name by releasing large amounts of alcohol as well as a type of sugar into space, according to new observations by an international team. […]