Stars R Us: the cosmic chemistry connection
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We are all made of star stuff! The atoms inside us were forged in the nuclear furnaces of stars. In stellar atmospheres, some elements form star-dust, which is blown out into space. In interstellar regions, chemical reactions between gases and dust turn the elements into increasingly complex molecules; over 150 have already been identified in space to date. These molecular cauldrons subsequently form the stellar nurseries from which new stars and planets form. The importance of molecules as progenitors for star formation, and for life, is not lost on astronomers. Chemists and Astronomers are now working together to understand how these 'space' molecules are formed, and the key role that they play in star formation. But how can we probe chemical reactions occurring literally light years from Earth? Our exhibit highlights the role of spectroscopy in unravelling these astrochemical reactions, detecting 'space molecules', and observing star and planet formation. Through tactile, eye-catching demonstrations, intuitive posters and videos, we make this interdisciplinary science accessible to the public. We will show how Astrochemistry is combining clues gleaned from the newest telescopes with sophisticated laboratory experiments and computer modelling, to specifically seek out the molecular markers of life. Our exhibit combines the expertise of Astrochemists from Strathclyde, UCL, Nottingham and the Open University, with the 'PUS' expertise of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The science described in the exhibit is based on the astrochemistry/astrophysics research currently underway in the research groups of Brown, Fraser, McCoustra and Mason and on the astronomy research underway in the research group of Viti. Much of this research is currently funded by the EPSRC. This area of science ideally lends itself to public understanding activities, as it is an unusual circumstance in any culture that a person has not looked at the night sky and wondered at their significance and where we come from. Perhaps this is why the public holds astronomy in such high-regard, and are knowledgeable enough to be open to advanced concepts related to our understanding of the universe. This interest is clearly confirmed by the popularity of Amateur Astronomy Clubs UK-wide, the popularity of Astronomy GCSE, A-Level and degree studies, and the high viewing figures for (any) space-based programming on the BBC and Discovery Channel. By combining it with chemistry, astronomy becomes even more exciting. Astrochemistry offers us a unique route to engaging adults, schoolchildren and students in the importance of cross-disciplinary work and the role of chemistry in the interstellar medium. It is clearly an inspirational subject / aspects of star and planet formation appear in Standard grade and Higher syllabi in Scotland and the equivalent school qualifications in England. We are confident, therefore, that the work this exhibit will describe will be accessible to all children and adults, widening general scientific literacy and supporting lifelong learning.
Publications
Acharyya K
(2007)
Desorption of CO and O 2 interstellar ice analogs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ackemann T
(2012)
Diamond heat sinking of terahertz antennas for continuous-wave photomixing
in Journal of Applied Physics
Aikawa Y
(2011)
AKARI observations of ice absorption bands towards edge-on YSOs
Aikawa Y.
(2012)
AKARI observations of ice absorption bands towards edge-on young stellar objects
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Aikawa Y.
(2009)
Observations of Interstellar and Circumstellar Ice
in AKARI, a Light to Illuminate the Misty Universe
Bergantini A
(2014)
Processing of analogues of plume fallout in cold regions of Enceladus by energetic electrons
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bisschop S
(2006)
Desorption rates and sticking coefficients for CO and N 2 interstellar ices
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Campbell S
(2014)
On the thermal dependence of the generation of terahertz radiation by photomixing
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
Collings M. P.
(2011)
LASSIE: Laboratory Astrochemical Surface Science In Europe
in 2010 NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop
Drabek-Maunder E
(2017)
Ground-based detection of a cloud of methanol from Enceladus: when is a biomarker not a biomarker?
in International Journal of Astrobiology
Emile Auriacombe Olivier Bruno Jacques
(2016)
Terahertz Desorption Emission Spectroscopy (THz DES) - 'ALMA in the Lab'
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #228
Fraser Helen Jane
(2015)
How does the Porosity of Interstellar Ice Affect Chemical Complexity and Deuteration Exchange?
in IAU General Assembly
Fraser Helen Jane
(2015)
Laboratory Molecular Astrophysics as an Invaluable Tool in understanding Astronomical Observations.
in IAU General Assembly
Fraser Helen Jane
(2019)
Unlocking the star-formation freezer; showing how laboratory studies are vital in understanding interstellar ices - from SPITZER and AKARI to the ALMA / JWST era.
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #234
Fuchs G. W.
(2006)
Laboratory experiments on interstellar ice analogs: The sticking and desorption of small physisorbed molecules
in NASA LAW 2006
Fuchs GW
(2006)
Comparative studies of O2 and N2 in pure, mixed and layered CO ices.
in Faraday discussions
Gaertner Sabrina
(2015)
Icy Collisions - Planet Building beyond the snowline
in AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #47
Gaertner Sabrina
(2018)
Micrometer-sized Water Ice Particles for Planetary Science Experiments: Influence of Surface Structure on Collisional Properties
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #232
Gaertner Sabrina
(2018)
What Governs Ice-Sticking in Planetary Science Experiments?
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #232
Gärtner S
(2017)
Micrometer-sized Water Ice Particles for Planetary Science Experiments: Influence of Surface Structure on Collisional Properties
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hei
(2007)
Experimental Studies on the Aggregation Properties of Dust in Planet-Forming Regions
in European Planetary Science Congress 2007
Heißelmann D
(2010)
Microgravity experiments on the collisional behavior of saturnian ring particles
in Icarus
Hill C
(2015)
Collisions of small ice particles under microgravity conditions II. Does the chemical composition of the ice change the collisional properties?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hill C
(2014)
Collisions of small ice particles under microgravity conditions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hill Catherine Rachel
(2015)
Are interstellar ices porous, and how do the pores collapse?
in IAU General Assembly
Hill CR
(2016)
Neutron Scattering Analysis of Water's Glass Transition and Micropore Collapse in Amorphous Solid Water.
in Physical review letters
Mashonkina L
(2016)
DIVISION B COMMISSION 14: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR DATA
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
McClure Melissa K.
(2018)
The IceAge ERS Program: Probing Building blocks of Life During the JWST Era
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #232
Mitterdorfer C
(2014)
Small-angle neutron scattering study of micropore collapse in amorphous solid water.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Noble J
(2012)
Thermal desorption characteristics of CO, O2 and CO2 on non-porous water, crystalline water and silicate surfaces at submonolayer and multilayer coverages Desorption from H2O(np), H2O(c) and SiOx
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Noble J
(2010)
2D mapping of ice species in molecular cores
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Noble J
(2011)
CO 2 FORMATION IN QUIESCENT CLOUDS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE CO + OH PATHWAY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Noble J
(2013)
A SURVEY OF H 2 O, CO 2 , AND CO ICE FEATURES TOWARD BACKGROUND STARS AND LOW-MASS YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS USING AKARI
in The Astrophysical Journal
Noble J
(2013)
The formation of carbon dioxide in molecular cores by a non-energetic route
in EAS Publications Series
Noble J. A.
(2009)
Probing the Chemistry of Molecular Cores: 2.5-5 µm AKARI Grism Spectroscopy of Young Stellar Objects in B35A
in AKARI, a Light to Illuminate the Misty Universe
Pascual Natalia
(2015)
Amorphous Silica- and Carbon- rich nano-templated surfaces as model interstellar dust surfaces for laboratory astrochemistry
in IAU General Assembly
Perotti G.
(2020)
Same, but different: the link between methanol gas and ice
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
Pilling S
(2014)
The temperature effect on the glycine decomposition induced by 2 keV electron bombardment in space analog conditions
in The European Physical Journal D
Salter DM
(2009)
A zero-gravity instrument to study low velocity collisions of fragile particles at low temperatures.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Suutarinen A
(2014)
Water and methanol in low-mass protostellar outflows: gas-phase synthesis, ice sputtering and destruction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Suutarinen Aleksi
(2013)
Mapping the Frozen Void
in Protostars and Planets VI Posters
Swinyard B
(2008)
The space infrared telescope for cosmology and astrophysics: SPICA A joint mission between JAXA and ESA
in Experimental Astronomy
Thi W
(2006)
VLT-ISAAC 3-5 µ m spectroscopy of embedded young low-mass stars III. Intermediate-mass sources in Vela
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thrower J
(2008)
Surface science investigations of photoprocesses in model interstellar ices
in Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films
Van Broekhuizen F
(2006)
Infrared spectroscopy of solid CO-CO 2 mixtures and layers
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Öberg K
(2006)
Effects of CO 2 on H 2 O band profiles and band strengths in mixed H 2 O:CO 2 ices
in Astronomy & Astrophysics