Volatiles are compounds with low sublimation temperatures, and they make up most of the condensible mass in typical planet-forming environments. They consist of relatively small, often hydrogenated, molecules based on […]
astrochemistry
Posted inAstrochemistry, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets
Spitzer Probes Weather on Brown Dwarfs
Swirling, stormy clouds may be ever-present on cool celestial orbs called brown dwarfs. New observations from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope suggest that most brown dwarfs are roiling with one or […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes
The Feedback of Massive Stars on Interstellar Astrochemical Processes
Astrochemistry is a discipline that studies physico-chemical processes in astrophysical environments. Such environments are characterized by conditions that are substantially different from those existing in usual chemical laboratories. Models which […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets
Using Dimers to Measure Biosignatures and Atmospheric Pressure for Terrestrial Exoplanets
We present a new method to probe atmospheric pressure on Earthlike planets using (O2-O2) dimers in the near-infrared. We also show that dimer features could be the most readily detectable […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Origin & Evolution of Life
Influence of Galactic Cosmic Rays on Ion-Neutral Hydrocarbon Chemistry in Upper Atmospheres of Free-Floating Exoplanets
Cosmic rays may be linked to the formation of volatiles necessary for prebiotic chemistry. We explore the effect of cosmic rays in a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere, as a proof-of-concept that ion-neutral […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Beta Pictoris
Herschel HIFI observations of ionised carbon in the Pictoris debris disk
Context: The dusty debris disk around the ~20 Myr old main-sequence A-star beta Pic is known to contain gas. Evidence points towards a secondary origin of the gas as opposed […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Titan
Detection of Propene in Titan's Stratosphere
The Voyager 1 flyby of Titan in 1980 gave a first glimpse of the chemical complexity of Titan’s atmosphere, detecting many new molecules with the infrared spectrometer (IRIS). These included […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Scientists Discover Cosmic Factory for Life's Building Blocks
Scientists have discovered a ‘cosmic factory’ for producing the building blocks of life, amino acids, according to research. The team from Imperial College London, the University of Kent and Lawrence […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Quantum Tunnelling Could Aid Life's Chemistry in the Coldest Places
New research has revealed that chemical reactions previously thought to be ‘impossible’ in space actually occur ‘with vigour,’ a discovery that could ultimately change our understanding of how alcohols are […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Origin & Evolution of Life
Computational Approach Speeds Up Exploration of the Universe
How many different molecules can be created when you release one of the universe’s most reactive substances, hydrogen cyanide, in the lab? And will the process create some particularly interesting […]