Posted on 03/12/2010 12:23:50 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The chemical fingerprints of potentially life-building molecules have been detected in the Orion nebula by Europe's Herschel Space Observatory.
The Orion nebula is a nearby stellar nursery, brimming with gas, dust and infant stars. It is known to be one of the most prolific chemical factories in space, although the full extent of its chemistry and the pathways for molecule formation are not well understood.
Researchers have used one of Herschel's instruments, which looks at the cosmos in the far infrared wavelengths of light, to provide more insight into how organic molecules form in space.
By sifting through the pattern of spikes in Orion nebula's light signature, or spectrum, astronomers have identified a few common molecules that are precursors to life-enabling molecules, including water, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, methanol, dimethyl ether, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur oxide and sulfur dioxide. Each spike in the spectrum corresponds to a particular molecule.
"This HIFI spectrum, and the many more to come, will provide a virtual treasure trove of information regarding the overall chemical inventory and on how organics form in a region of active star formation. It harbors the promise of a deep understanding of the chemistry of space once we have the full spectral surveys available," said Edwin Bergin of the University of Michigan and the principal investigator of the HEXOS Key Program on Herschel.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
If not, I'm not goin’.
Beer!
ML/NJ
Life enabling chemicals? Lots of those look pretty toxic to me. This needs to be stopped immediately!
Does the EPA know about this?
Where did this “water” and these “organics” come from? Or would it be more accurate to ask “how”?
And in the same spirit of assumed inevitability, precursors to IBM mainframes, Dell PCs, and the Internet can be seen in abundance on every beach. In fact, you can walk on them or even make little castles out of them.
One of these days, we will 'wake up' and realize that what you say is true, because LIFE is the UNIVERSE.
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