Cool astrophysical objects, such as (exo)planets, brown dwarfs, or asymptotic giant branch stars, can be strongly affected by condensation. Condensation does not only directly affect the chemical composition of the […]
chemistry
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Press Release
How A Cup Of Water Can Unlock The Secrets Of Our Universe
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have made a discovery that could change our understanding of the universe. In their study published in Science Advances, they reveal, for the […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Titan
Shock Synthesis of Organic Molecules by Meteoroids in the Atmosphere of Titan
Thermochemical modeling and shock-tube experiments show that shocks applied to N2/CH4 gas mixtures can synthesize organic molecules. Sufficiently large, hypersonic meteoroids entering the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan should therefore […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Impact events, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Origin Of Life Molecules In The Atmosphere After Big Impacts On The Early Earth
The origin of life on Earth would benefit from a prebiotic atmosphere that produced nitriles, like HCN, which enable ribonucleotide synthesis. However, geochemical evidence suggests that Hadean air was relatively […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Status Report
Machine-learning Identified Molecular Fragments Responsible For Infrared Emission Features Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Machine learning feature importance calculations are used to determine the molecular substructures that are responsible for mid and far-infrared (IR) emission features of neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Press Release, Titan
NASA Awards $680,000 To Study Evolution Of Tholins On Titan
Vincent Chevrier, an associate professor at the U of A Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, has been awarded $680,000 from NASA to study the chemical reactions of complex carbon […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Status Report
Astrobiology Periodic Table v 6.0
Tweet by Charles Cockell @CharlesCockell – “Here is an updated version of the ‘Astrobiology Periodic Table’ (v. 6.0), with new biological data from an excellent paper by Remik and Helmann.” […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Does Ice In The Universe Contain The Molecules Making Up The Building Blocks Of Life In Planetary Systems?
The James Webb Space Telescope – the most precise telescope ever built – was decisive in discovering the frozen forms of a long series of molecules, such as carbon dioxide, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Benchmark Studies On The Isomerization Enthalpies For Interstellar Molecular Species
With the well-established correlation between the relative stabilities of isomers and their interstellar abundances coupled with the prevalence of isomeric species among the interstellar molecular species, isomerization remains a plausible […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Ceres, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Bacterial Utilisation Of Aliphatic Organics: Is the Dwarf Planet Ceres Habitable?
The regolith environment and associated organic material on Ceres is analogous to environments that existed on Earth 3–4 billion years ago.