Safeguarding Life's Foundations: Manganese Ions Potentially Shielded Early Building Blocks from Gamma Radiation.Image Credit: IgorZh/ShutterstockThe emergence of life on Earth is shrouded in mysteries, and one of the perplexing puzzles is how the essential molecules for life withstand the intense radiation prevalent during the early stages. While space harbors intricate chemistry, including amino acids...
A striking view of Asteroid Itokawa, as captured by the Hayabusa spacecraft. This S-type asteroid, known for its distinctive peanut shape, boasts a diameter of roughly 1,100 feet and completes a full rotation every 12 hours. Credit: JAXA.A recent breakthrough in asteroid research by the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft has profound implications for our understanding...
Credit: PexelsSince water plays a crucial role in supporting life forms based on carbon, scientists actively search for it when exploring the potential for extraterrestrial life. This includes investigating other planets through probes and using space-based telescopes to observe the cosmos.Detecting water from Earth-based instruments is considerably challenging. However, recently developed water-detecting receivers,...
Jupiter's moons,also called Europa, have thrilling red streaks all over it´s surface. Scientists believe it's a frozen blend of water and salts, (like salty ice). Its chemical mark is unknown considering that it has no recognized substance on earth.Researchers discovered two new crystals made from water and table salt at low temperatures, below about...
In a first for astrochemistry, astronomers have discovered dimethyl ether in a planet-forming disc. A precursor of larger organic molecules that can spur life, dimethyl ether is the largest molecule identified yet in a protoplanetary disc-- a rotating cloud of gas, dust, and ice that develops around a recently developing star and ultimately forms...
Astronomers find 'gold standard' star in Milky Way. Credit: Carnegie ScienceThere is a relatively bright star in our sun's neighborhood of the Milky Way Galaxy. Inside of it, astronomers have been able to identify the widest variety of elements in a star more than our solar system yet.The research, led by University of Michigan...
Argon that is specially sourced could potentially uncover mysteries about the universe's dark matter in the near future. Credit: nautil.University of Houston Researchers Create Facility for Mining Exceptionally Pure Argon from Colorado SiteA deposit of practically pure argon that has been left untouched since Earth's formation will help physicists know more about the universe.The...
All 5 nucleobases of RNA and DNA have been found in meteorites for the first time. These chemicals are necessary ingredients for life on Earth and numerous purines and also two pyrimidines-- thymine and cytosine-- not previously spotted in meteorites were discovered.The discoveries originate from analyzing three carbonaceous meteorites, known to be abundant in...
Re-exploring a renowned meteoriteGround braking Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis is being used to better explore the chemical diversity of the renowned Murchison meteorite that exploded over Australia in 1969. The desired outcome of this procedure might result in the discovery of new particles in meteorites and samples from space.Preliminary analysis of the Murchison...
Nasa/JHU/Carnegie CreditMercury is a really peculiar planet. The tiniest in the solar system and the one nearest to the sun, it rotates slowly in a 3:2 spin resonance and experiences hot temperatures of up to 430 degrees Celsius during the day and cold temperatures of -170 degrees Celsius at night.Its average density is...
