Dust grains absorb half of the radiation emitted by stars throughout the history of the universe, re-emitting this energy at infrared wavelengths.
Interstellar
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Interstellar, Press Release
The Spatial Distribution Of An Aromatic Molecule, C6H5CN, In The Cold Dark Cloud TMC-1
We present a highly sensitive 2D line survey of TMC-1 obtained with the Yebes 40m radio telescope in the Q-band (31.13-49.53 GHz). These maps cover a region of 320 arcsec […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Interstellar, Status Report
Catalytic Role Of HI In The Interstellar Synthesis Of Complex Organic Molecules
Using quantum chemical calculations, we model the pathways for synthesizing two purine nucleobases, adenine and guanine, in the gas-phase interstellar environment, surrounded by neutral atomic hydrogen (HI).
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
New Bistable Solutions in Molecular Cloud Chemistry: Nitrogen and Carbon Autocatalysis
We have investigated the chemistry of dense interstellar clouds and found new bistable solutions in the nitrogen and carbon chemistries.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Interstellar, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: Nearby Stars’ Close Encounters with the Brightest Earth Transmissions
After having left the heliosphere, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 continue to travel through interstellar space. The Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, and New Horizons spacecraft are also on paths to […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Processing Of Hydroxylamine, NH2OH, An Important Prebiotic Precursor, On Interstellar Ices
Hydroxylamine, NH2OH, is one of the already detected interstellar molecules with the highest prebiotic potential. Yet, the abundance of this molecule found by astronomical observations is rather low for a […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Impact events, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Press Release
Searching For Life With Space Dust
Following enormous collisions, such as asteroid impacts, some amount of material from an impacted world may be ejected into space.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Interstellar, Status Report
The Chemistry Of H2NC In The Interstellar Medium And The Role Of The C + NH3 Reaction
We carried out an observational search for the recently discovered molecule H2NC, and its more stable isomer H2CN, toward eight cold dense clouds (L1544, L134N, TMC-2, Lupus-1A, L1489, TMC-1 NH3, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Radio Recombination Lines Of Carbon/Oxygen Ions Detected For The First Time
A research team from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has detected radio recombination lines (RRLs) of ions heavier than helium for the first time, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Carbonaceous Dust Grains Within Galaxies Seen In The First Billion Years Of Cosmic Time
Interstellar dust captures a significant fraction of elements heavier than helium in the solid state and is an indispensable component both in theory and observations of galaxy evolution.