Phosphorus Archives

Intensity maps of PN and SiO integrated in velocity towards G31.41+0.31 (Fontani et al., 2024), obtained with ALMA. (a) PN J = 2 − 1 integrated in the range 85.7–105.8 km s−1 . The white contour is the 3σ rms level of the integrated map (σ = 1.14 × 10−2 Jy km s−1 ), while the black contours are in steps of 1σ rms. The PN emission arises from two regions labelled as 1 and 2, offset from the yellow contour which is the 3 mm continuum emission (20σ rms) from the hot core. The synthesised beam is in the bottom-left corner. (b) Map of the intensity of SiO J = 2 − 1 integrated in the same velocity range as PN (colour scale). The PN emission regions identified in panel (a) are highlighted in white. Contours start at the 3σ rms level of the integrated emission (3 × 10−2 Jy km s−1 ), and correspond to 3, 15, 30, 50, 80, and 120σ. Adapted from Fontani et al. (2024). -- astro-ph.GA

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

Observations Of Phosphorus-bearing Molecules In The Interstellar Medium

by Keith CowingJuly 30, 2024July 30, 2024

The chemistry of phosphorus (31P) in space is particularly significant due to the key role it plays in biochemistry on Earth. Utilising radio and infrared spectroscopic observations, several key phosphorus-containing […]

Illustration of phosphorus cleavage from different biomolecules on the surface of natural iron oxide particles. CREDIT Aristilde Research Group/Northwestern University

Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Press Release

Minerals Play A Newly Discovered Role In Earth’s Phosphorus CycleNorthwestern UniversityMinerals Play A Newly Discovered Role In Earth’s Phosphorus Cycle

by Keith CowingJuly 24, 2024July 24, 2024

Northwestern University-led researchers have discovered a new way that nature cycles phosphorus, a finding that uncovers a missing piece of Earth’s puzzling phosphorus cycle.

Earth's oceans as seen by STS-114 -- NASA

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extinction events, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Self-propelling Oxygen Decline In Earth’s Ancient Oceans

by Keith CowingJune 22, 2024June 22, 2024

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have made significant strides in understanding ancient ocean anoxia, with potential insights for today’s marine environments.

Reprocessed images of Uranus [L]] and Neptune [R] NASA/JPL-Caltech (Uranus and Neptune); “Modelling the Seasonal Cycle of Uranus’s Colour and Magnitude, and Comparison with Neptune,” by Patrick G. J. Irwin et al., in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 527, No. 4; February 2024 (reprocessed images)

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Gas Giants, Ice Giant, Icy Worlds, Neptune, Status Report, Uranus

Insights on the Formation Conditions of Uranus and Neptune from their Deep Elemental Compositions

by Keith CowingJune 20, 2024May 12, 2025

This study, placed in the context of the preparation for the Uranus Orbiter Probe mission, aims to predict the bulk volatile compositions of Uranus and Neptune. Using a protoplanetary disk […]

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

Deep Search For Phosphine In A Prestellar Core

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2024June 12, 2024

Understanding in which chemical forms phosphorus exists in star- and planet-forming regions and how phosphorus is delivered to planets are of great interest from the viewpoint of the origin of […]

Distribution of the Galactic P-normal stars with [P/Fe]< 1 on the [Fe/H]−[P/Fe] plane and illustration of the predicted evolutionary path of the “ONe nova” scenario (wide gray line). Observational results for P-normal stars ([P/Fe]< 1) from (i) Roederer et al. (2014, 2016), (ii) Maas et al. (2022), and (iii) Caffau et al. (2016, 2019), M20, Maas et al. (2022), and Nandakumar et al. (2022) are plotted by filled circles, open circles, and crosses, respectively. The gray line just illustrates how [P/Fe] evolves with [Fe/H]: the exact details of the evolutionary paths (e.g., [Fe/H] at the maximum [P/Fe]) from the present chemical evolution model can be different from this line. Characteristic features of the models are explained with short phrases at appropriate places (e.g., “CCSN only” at [Fe/H]< −2.4). -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Status Report

Phosphorus Enrichment By ONe Novae In The Galaxy

by Keith CowingMay 16, 2024May 16, 2024

Recent observations have shown that [P/Fe] in the Galactic stars decreases with increasing [Fe/H] for [Fe/H] > -1 whereas it is almost subsolar for [Fe/H]< -2. These [P/Fe] trends with […]

An artist's impression of this research. (Credit: NAOJ)

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

A New Theory To Explain The Origin Of Phosphorus

by Keith CowingMay 12, 2024May 12, 2024

Astronomers have proposed a new theory to explain the origin of phosphorus, one of the elements important for life on Earth. The theory suggests a type of stellar explosion known […]

Emission of SO, SiS, and SO2 integrated in velocity. Upper panels: velocity-integrated emission of, from left to right, SO N = 3 − 2, N = 2 − 1(2), N = 2 − 1(3), and N = 4 − 4 (see Table 1 for the spectral parameters). The integration velocity range is 85.7–105.8 km s−1 in all images to match the velocity interval where the PN emission is detected. The black contours start from the 3σ rms level of the integrated maps, which is, from left to right: 4.8 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 2.5 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 3.6 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 2.7 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 , and the step is of 10σ rms. The white contour corresponds to the PN integrated emission, and the numbered regions "1" and "2" are those defined in Fig. 1. The synthesised beam is illustrated in the lower-left corner. To the right of the quantum numbers, we indicate the Eup of the transition. Lower panels: same as the upper panels for the SiS J = 5 − 4 and J = 6 − 5 lines, and the SO2 JKa,Kb = 31,3 − 20,2 and JKa,Kb = 101,9 − 100,10 lines. The 3σ rms level is: 2.9 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SiS J = 5 − 4; 2.3 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SiS J = 6 − 5; 2.95 × 10−3 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SO2 JKa,Kb = 31,3 − 30,2; 1 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SO2 JKa,Kb = 101,9 − 100,10. -- astro-ph.GA

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

The GUAPOS Project: G31.41+0.31 Unbiased ALMA Spectral Observational Survey. IV. Phosphorus-bearing Molecules And Their Relation With Shock Tracers

by Keith CowingNovember 24, 2023November 24, 2023

The astrochemistry of the important biogenic element phosphorus (P) is still poorly understood, but observational evidence indicates that P-bearing molecules are likely associated with shocks.

A graphic illustrating the Galactic distribution of phosphorus in the range 0–25 kpc from the Galactic Centre, as identified from stellar and interstellar observations. Detections by atomic transitions in stellar photospheres are denoted by green stars (from ref. 2 and references therein), in diffuse clouds by purple circles (ref. 16 and those therein17,18,19), and in planetary nebulae by blue triangles, while magenta circles and cyan diamonds mark the identifications in molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes from molecular lines. The red square shows the position of WB89-621. The orange X indicates the solar system. The APOGEE survey detections are not shown per possible contamination. WB89-621 is the only known source of phosphorus in any form beyond 12 kpc.

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Phosphorous Has Been Discovered In The Outer Reaches Of The Milky Way

by Keith CowingNovember 16, 2023November 16, 2023

Despite its importance in planet formation and biology, phosphorus has been identified only in the inner 12 kpc of the Galaxy2-19. The study of this element has been hindered in […]

Dependence of the formation of PO, PN and their ratio with the reaction rate coefficients ki of the 14 chemical reactions of the system. We plot the Pearson correlation r of the abundance of PO (blue bars), PN (red bars) and their ratio (green bars) with all 14 reaction rate coefficients for (a) T=10 K (b) T=100 K and (c) T=300 K, considering times t = 103 (light colors), t = 104 (vivid colors) and t = 105 yrs (dark colors). Correlations |r| > 0.05 are supported by p-values < 0.01. The correlations were calculated with sets consisting of all the combinations of 3 values of each of the 14 ki (bars), and also for a finer grid composed of 11 values of each of the 5 most influential ki (black diamonds). In all cases ki ranges from ki/10 to 10ki, being the values logarithmically distributed, and P-hydrogenation fraction fP = 0.5. -- astro-ph.SR

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

A Theoretical Approach To The Complex Chemical Evolution Of Phosphorus In The Interstellar Medium

by Keith CowingSeptember 18, 2023September 18, 2023

The study of phosphorus chemistry in the interstellar medium has become a topic of growing interest in astrobiology, because it is plausible that a wide range of P-bearing molecules were […]

Phosphorus

Observations Of Phosphorus-bearing Molecules In The Interstellar Medium

Minerals Play A Newly Discovered Role In Earth’s Phosphorus CycleNorthwestern UniversityMinerals Play A Newly Discovered Role In Earth’s Phosphorus Cycle

Self-propelling Oxygen Decline In Earth’s Ancient Oceans

Insights on the Formation Conditions of Uranus and Neptune from their Deep Elemental Compositions

Deep Search For Phosphine In A Prestellar Core

Phosphorus Enrichment By ONe Novae In The Galaxy

A New Theory To Explain The Origin Of Phosphorus

The GUAPOS Project: G31.41+0.31 Unbiased ALMA Spectral Observational Survey. IV. Phosphorus-bearing Molecules And Their Relation With Shock Tracers

Phosphorous Has Been Discovered In The Outer Reaches Of The Milky Way

A Theoretical Approach To The Complex Chemical Evolution Of Phosphorus In The Interstellar Medium

Astrobiology Graduate Conference (AbGradCon26) Update

ExMODE: A Comprehensive Resource For Extremophile Genomic And Functional Exploration

Mass Wasting On Mars

The Hill Sphere Transits of Beta Pictoris c and The Search for Another 1981-like Event

Sample Return Tech: Pre-impact Meteorite Strewn Field Predictions For Imminent Impactors And Meteorite Recovery