Ultraviolet (UV) processing in the insterstellar medium (ISM) induces the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons. Aliphatics, including alkanes, are present in different interstellar environments, being prevalently formed in evolved stars; thus, the […]
organic chemistry
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Complex Organic Molecules Uncover Deeply Embedded Precursors Of Hot Cores
During the process of star formation, the dense gas undergoes significant chemical evolution leading to the emergence of a rich variety of molecules associated with hot cores and hot corinos. […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Modelling Triatomic Biosignatures: Ozone and Isotopomers
In this work we present a new approach to produce spectroscopic constants and model first-principles synthetic spectra for all molecules of astrophysical interest. We have generalized our previous diatomic molecule […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Press Release, Video, Audio, Webcasts, Podcasts
Complex Chemistry In The Cold Depths Of Space (video)
For years, scientists thought some complex molecules could only be formed on Earth. But what if we found these kinds of molecules out in space after all? In this episode […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Press Release
How Molecular Handedness Emerged In Early Biology
Molecules often have a structural asymmetry called chirality, which means they can appear in alternative, mirror-image versions, akin to the left and right versions of human hands. One of the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The First Spatially-resolved Detection of 13CN in a Protoplanetary Disk and Evidence for Complex Carbon Isotope Fractionation
Recent measurements of carbon isotope ratios in both protoplanetary disks and exoplanet atmospheres have suggested a possible transfer of significant carbon isotope fractionation from disks to planets.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release
Do We Have Cosmic Dust To Thank For Life On Earth?
Before life existed on Earth, there had to be chemistry to form organic molecules from the chemical elements nitrogen, sulphur, carbon and phosphorus.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Interstellar, Status Report
Spin-Forbidden Formation of Amide Molecules in the Interstellar Medium
In this study, two-state spin-forbidden mechanisms are proposed for the barrierless formation of amide isomers in the C2H5NO family of molecules. This family belongs to the first level of complexity […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Pantetheine, Vital For All Life, Likely Played A Role In Life’s Origin
A chemical compound essential to all living things has been synthesised in a lab in conditions that could have occurred on early Earth, suggesting it played a role at the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release
Homochirality Of Life: Magnetic Effects At The Origin Of Life?
The so-called homochirality of life – the fact that all biomolecules in living organisms only ever occur in one of two mirror-image forms – has puzzled a number of scientific […]