Methanol Archives

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Rotational Spectroscopy of CH3OD with a Reanalysis of CH3OD Toward IRAS 16293−2422

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2024July 7, 2024

We have started a measurement campaign of numerous methanol isotopologs in low-lying torsional states in order to provide extensive line lists for radio astronomical observations from an adequate spectroscopic model […]

Selection of rotational transitions of CH317OH covered by the ReMoCA survey. The LTE synthetic spectrum of CH317OH used to derive its column density toward Sgr B2(N2b) is displayed in red and overlaid on the observed spectrum shown in black. The blue synthetic spectrum contains the contributions of all molecules identified in our survey so far, including CH317OH . The values written below each panel correspond from left to right to the half-power beam width, the central frequency in MHz, the width in MHz of each panel in parentheses, and the continuum level in K of the baseline-subtracted spectra in brackets. The y-axis is labeled in brightness temperature units (K). The dotted line indicates the 3σ noise level. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Investigation of the Rotational Spectrum of CH317OH and its Tentative Detection Toward Sagittarius B2(N)

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2024July 7, 2024

Methanol is an abundant molecule in space. The column density of CH138OH is in some star-forming regions so high that the search for CH317OH is promising. But only very few […]

This image by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) features the central region of the Chamaeleon I dark molecular cloud, which resides 630 light years away. The cold, wispy cloud material (blue, center) is illuminated in the infrared by the glow of the young, outflowing protostar Ced 110 IRS 4 (orange, upper left). The light from numerous background stars, seen as orange dots behind the cloud, can be used to detect ices in the cloud, which absorb the starlight passing through them. Larger image

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Interstellar, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

JWST Sheds Light On The Structure Of Interstellar Water Ice

by Keith CowingJuly 5, 2024July 5, 2024

Using the JWST, a team of researchers including Paola Caselli, Barbara Michela Giuliano and Basile Husquinet from MPE, have probed deep into dense cloud cores, revealing details of interstellar ice […]

Infrared sources towards Sgr B2(N) reported by the GLIMPSE IRC 4 Band at 8.0µm (Left) and the 2MSAA Ks Band at 2.2µm (Right). The 84 GHz CH3OH maser emission at 58.5 km s−1 is shown with contours, as in Figure 2(r). -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report, Stellar Cartography

Maser Activity of Organic Molecules toward Sgr B2(N)

by Keith CowingApril 24, 2024April 24, 2024

At centimeter wavelengths, single-dish observations have suggested that the Sagittarius (Sgr) B2 molecular cloud at the Galactic Center hosts weak maser emission from several organic molecules, including CH2NH, HNCNH, and […]

These towering tendrils of cosmic dust and gas sit at the heart of M16, or the Eagle Nebula. The aptly named Pillars of Creation featured in this stunning image are part of an active star-forming region in the nebula and hide newborn stars in their wispy columns. The chemical building blocks of life may have come from regions like this one and then were further processed inside asteroids formed in our, and possibly other, solar systems. This image was made by combining images from two cameras aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Webb’s near-infrared image was fused with its mid-infrared image, setting this star-forming region ablaze with new details. -- Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI).

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release

Studying Life’s Origins By Simulating a Cosmic Evolution

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2024January 12, 2024

Amino acids make up millions of proteins that drive the chemical gears of life, including essential bodily functions in animals. Because of amino acids’ relationship to living things scientists are […]

𝛼-phase of methanol ice. Dashed lines represent the OH· · · O hydrogen bonds forming methanol chains. Arrows represent the motion of O-H stretching when neighbouring chains are in-phase (a) or in counter-phase (b). -- astro-ph.IM

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Physical Properties of Methanol (CH3OH) Ice As A Function of Temperature: Density, Infrared Band Strengths, and Crystallization

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

The presence of methanol among the common ice components in interstellar clouds and protostellar envelopes has been confirmed by the James Webb Space Telescope. Methanol is often detected in the […]

An edge-on view of the internal density (left) and temperature (right) structure of a proto-BD predicted by the brown dwarf formation model (Machida & Basu 2019). White dotted lines mark the expected warm corino region close to the jet launching zone. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Brown Dwarfs, Press Release

First Observations Of Warm And Cold Methanol In Class 0/I Proto-brown Dwarfs

by Keith CowingMay 19, 2023May 19, 2023

We present results from the first molecular line survey to search for the fundamental complex organic molecule, methanol (CH3OH), in 14 Class 0/I proto-brown dwarfs (proto-BDs). IRAM 30-m observations over […]

Astrochemistry, Icy Worlds, Interstellar, Status Report

Simulation Of CH3OH Ice UV Photolysis Under Laboratory Conditions

by Keith CowingFebruary 8, 2023February 8, 2023

Methanol is the most complex molecule securely identified in interstellar ices and is a key chemical species for understanding chemical complexity in astrophysical environments.

Methanol

Rotational Spectroscopy of CH3OD with a Reanalysis of CH3OD Toward IRAS 16293−2422

Investigation of the Rotational Spectrum of CH317OH and its Tentative Detection Toward Sagittarius B2(N)

JWST Sheds Light On The Structure Of Interstellar Water Ice

Maser Activity of Organic Molecules toward Sgr B2(N)

Studying Life’s Origins By Simulating a Cosmic Evolution

Physical Properties of Methanol (CH3OH) Ice As A Function of Temperature: Density, Infrared Band Strengths, and Crystallization

First Observations Of Warm And Cold Methanol In Class 0/I Proto-brown Dwarfs

Simulation Of CH3OH Ice UV Photolysis Under Laboratory Conditions

Sugar Erythrulose Discovered In Interstellar Space

Sample Return: Minimizing Decompression And Warming During Deep Seawater Collection Increases Abundance And Activity Of Autochthonous Bacteria And Archaea

Sample Return From Earth’s Deep Biosphere

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,207 10 July 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

The Sun’s Chemical Peculiarity: Disentangling Galactic Chemical Evolution And Planetary Engulfment In Solar Twins