Astrochemistry is the study of the chemical composition and processes of celestial bodies and the interstellar medium, bridging the disciplines of astronomy and chemistry. It explores the formation, reaction, and destruction of chemical substances in space, ranging from simple molecules like hydrogen to complex organic compounds. Astrochemists investigate how these substances influence and are influenced by cosmic phenomena such as star formation, planetary system development, and the origins of life. Techniques used in astrochemistry include spectroscopy, which helps identify chemical species by analyzing the light emitted or absorbed by them in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Key discoveries in the field include the detection of water vapor in distant planetary systems, complex organic molecules in star-forming regions, and the ubiquitous presence of dust and gas clouds that serve as the building blocks for stars and planets. These studies provide crucial insights into the chemical evolution of the universe and potential extraterrestrial habitats.
Fullerenes are large, complex carbon molecules known for their durability. Their atoms are arranged in three-dimensional spherical structures that feature a pattern of alternating hexagons…
Charles Darwin suggested the possibility of life originating in a “warm little pond” with a suitable mix of chemicals and energy. New research conducted by…
Eighteen years following the return of NASA’s Stardust mission to Earth, which brought back the first samples from a known comet, the true nature of…
The finding of minute salt particles in an asteroid sample retrieved by the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft suggests that the presence of liquid water might be…
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have explored the initial consequences of the interaction of light with molecules on the surface of nanoscopic aerosols. The…
Scientists have used lab experiments to retrace the chemical steps leading to the creation of complex hydrocarbons in space, showing pathways to forming 2-D carbon-based…
The nearby dwarf galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a chemically primitive place. Unlike the Milky Way, this semi-spiral collection of a…
A team of scientists, led by Boy Lankhaar at Chalmers University of Technology, has solved an important puzzle in astrochemistry: how to measure magnetic fields…
Dust is everywhere — not just in your attic or under your bed, but also in outer space. To astronomers, dust can be a nuisance…
Astronomers had a mystery on their hands. No matter where they looked, from inside the Milky Way to distant galaxies, they observed a puzzling glow…
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have discovered the organic molecule methyl alcohol (methanol) in the protoplanetary disk around the star TW Hydrae….
New NASA experiments reveal that vitamin B3 and other complex organic compounds could be made in space and it is plausible that meteorite and comet…
After decades of speculation and searching, astronomers have discovered the important dust-forming molecule Si-C-Si (disilicon carbide) in space. The space between stars is not empty…
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics conducted initial experiments in the Cryogenic Storage Ring. The Cryogenic Storage Ring can reproduce the chemical…
Scientists from NASA’s Ames Research Center have demonstrated for the first time that they can make uracil, cytosine, and thymine, all three components of RNA…
Using multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry, researchers have detected 10 aldehydes laboratory samples which were created to simulate material found in interstellar…
An international team of researchers has discovered an efficient and versatile way of slowing the rotation of molecular ions, opening up new possibilities for laboratory-based…
Researchers at Goddard’s Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory have developed a new technique to search space dust for molecules that are critical for life. While the origin…