Astrochemistry – Page 2
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Research
Dimethyl ether found in a planet-forming disc for the first time
Discovery of dimethyl ether, nitric oxide and other small molecules offers insight into early chemical evolution on planets
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Research
Chemical ecosystem of Murchison meteorite molecules revealed in snapshots
Atomic force microscopy proof of principle test shows technique is up to the challenge of chronicling chemical diversity in extra-terrestrial samples
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Feature
How elements are made beyond the stars
Tim Wogan looks at what recent astronomical discoveries have added to our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis, and the mysteries that remain
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Research
Comets’ green colour comes from dicarbon dissociation, experiments confirm
First direct observation of C2 photodissociation explains why some comets have a green halo
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Research
The sun may have been the surprising source of Earth’s water
Dust grains pounded by solar wind and then delivered to Earth are a significant source of the planet’s oceans
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News
Airbus to build Ariel telescope to examine exoplanets' chemical composition
European Space Agency’s mission to study chemical composition of 1000 exoplanets will launch in 2029
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News
James Webb Space Telescope poised to provide insight into chemical evolution of universe
Launch later this month could provide new understanding of exoplanets and the origins of heavier elements
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Research
Methane mystery on Saturn’s moon rekindles search for life on other planets
Researchers struggle to explain suspicious amounts of methane on Enceladus while a new chapter opens in the debate around the source of Venus’s phosphine. Why is it so hard to decide what counts as a sign of life?
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Careers
Exploring the space economy
In the words of Jean-Luc Picard, ‘things are only impossible until they are not’
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Opinion
Ewine van Dishoeck: ‘Take a steep trajectory early in your career’
The pioneering astrochemist on art, gathering strength and taking the leap into a new discipline
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Research
Molecular complexity index could help find proof of alien life
Is it microbes on Venus or just lifeless planetary processes? Discovery could help scientists identify life on other planets
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Research
Surprise as nickel vapour is found in comet tails far too cold for metal sublimation
Discovery points to unusual organometallic chemistry going on in deep space
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Research
Discovery of aromatics in interstellar cloud shakes up astrochemistry
Two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules found in a cold, dark space suggests they are more widespread than was thought
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Feature
The hellish chemistry of Venus’ atmosphere
The potential presence of phosphine on Venus is only the latest twist in the strange chemistry of our planetary neighbour, finds Clare Sansom
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Research
Mission accomplished for scientist who set out to bring astrobiology to Portugal
Zita Martins discusses her work searching for molecules related to the origin of life
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Research
Is there phosphine on Venus?
A software glitch and a new analysis of 50-year-old data are all helping to answer the question
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Research
Options expanded for origin of Earth’s water
Enstatite chondrite meteroites contain enough hydrogen to have supplied three to five times the total mass of water in Earth’s oceans
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Podcast
Hexasilabenzene
Brian Clegg discovers what a six-membered silicon ring can tell us about alien life