Ancient peptides are remnants of early biochemistry that continue to play pivotal roles in current proteins. They are simple molecules yet complex enough to exhibit independent functions, being products of […]
Scientists have long speculated about the potential habitability of Venus, not at the 700K surface, but in the cloud layers located at 48–60 km altitudes, where temperatures match those found on […]
The incorporation of nitrogen atoms into cyclic compounds is essential for terrestrial life; nitrogen-containing (N-)heterocycles make up DNA and RNA nucleobases, several amino acids, B vitamins, porphyrins, and other components […]
Astrochemist Ryan Fortenberry, UM associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, collaborated with Ralf Kaiser, of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, to study the creation of a simple sugar acid […]
We used new high spectral resolution observations of propynal (HCCCHO) towards TMC-1 and in the laboratory to update the spectral line catalog available for transitions of HCCCHO – specifically at […]
We have conducted Q-band (30 GHz − 50 GHz) line survey observations toward a carbon-chain emission peak in the Serpens South cluster-forming region with the extended Q-band (eQ) receiver installed […]
One way to understand the potential for life on far-off planets — those in other solar systems that orbit different stars — is to study a planet’s atmosphere. Telescopic images […]
The discovery of phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere provides lessons for the search for life. The detection has survived all challenges and has acquired independent support from archival data from PVP.
Venus has become a target of astrobiological interest because it is physically accessible to direct exploration, unlike exoplanets. So far this interest has been motivated not by the explicit expectation […]
Primordial carbon delivered to the early earth by asteroids and meteorites provided a diverse source of extraterrestrial organics from pre-existing simple organic compounds, complex solar-irradiated macromolecules, and macromolecules from extended […]
