Universiteit Leiden Archives

Astrochemist Julia Santos -- Universiteit Leiden

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, People Of Astrobiology, Press Release

Refuting A 20 Year Standing Paradigm On The formation Of Methanol In Space

by Keith CowingNovember 29, 2025November 29, 2025

How do atoms and molecules end up forming planets? That’s what astrochemist Julia Santos studied during her PhD. She discovered the dominant process behind the formation of methanol in space […]

Composite image of a star-forming region (left) and Comet 67P (right). In the center is the ammonium hydrosulfide salt (NH4SH) that both appear to have in common, and which explains, among other things, why there is less volatile sulfur in star-forming regions than expected. (c) NASA/ESA/CSA/M. Zamani (ESA/Webb); ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM; K. Slavicinska.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Lost Sulfur In The Universe Found In Salt On Dust And Pebbles

by Keith CowingFebruary 3, 2025February 2, 2025

An international team led by astronomers at Leiden University has shown in laboratory experiments that sulfur can bind with ammonium under icy cosmic conditions and form a salt that sticks […]