JWST observations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission provide some of the deepest and highest resolution views of the cold interstellar medium (ISM) in nearby galaxies.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Rotational Spectra of Interstellar N- and CN-PAHs: Pyrene and Coronene
The detection of benzonitrile (C6H5CN), 1- and 2-cyano-naphthalene (C10H7CN) in the cold, dark molecular cloud TMC-1 at centimetre (cm) wavelengths has opened up prospects for the detection of other N- […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
Formation Of c-C6H5CN Ice Using The SPACE TIGER Experimental Setup
Benzonitrile (c-C6H5CN) has been recently detected in cold and dense regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), where it has been used as a signpost of a rich aromatic organic chemistry […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Press Release
A High Angular Resolution View Of The PAH Emission In Seyfert Galaxies Using JWST/MRS Data
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carbon-based molecules, which are ubiquitous in a variety of astrophysical objects and environments. In this work, we use JWST/MIRI MRS spectroscopy of 3 Seyferts to […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Press Release
Contribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Ionization To Neutral Gas Heating In Galaxies
The ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), by ultraviolet (UV) photons from massive stars is expected to account for a large fraction of the heating of neutral gas in galaxies. […]
Posted inAstrochemistry
Bayesian Source Separation Applied to Identifying Complex Organic Molecules in Space
Emission from a class of benzene-based molecules known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) dominates the infrared spectrum of star-forming regions. The observed emission appears to arise from the combined emission […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Interstellar, Press Release
Key to Cosmic Carbon's Molecular Evolution
Scientists at NASA’s Ames Research Center now have the capability to systematically investigate the molecular evolution of cosmic carbon. For the first time, these scientists are able to automatically interpret […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Press Release
NASA Identifies Carbon-rich Molecules in Meteors as the “Origin of Life”
Tons, perhaps tens of tons, of carbon molecules in dust particles and meteorites fall on Earth daily. Meteorites are especially valuable to astronomers because they provide relatively big chunks of […]