Astronomers report that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the universe and
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[IMG]http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/111026-DustPhoto-hmed-1155a.grid-7x2.jpg[/IMG][release][B]
In today's issue of the journal Nature, astronomers report that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the Universe. The results suggest that complex organic compounds are not the sole domain of life but can be made naturally by stars.[/B][/release]
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A new look at the interstellar dust permeating the universe has revealed hints of organic matter that could be created naturally by stars, scientists say.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong observed stars at different evolutionary phases and found that they are able to produce complex organic compounds and eject them into space, filling the regions between stars. The compounds are so complex that their chemical structures resemble the makeup of coal and petroleum, the study's lead author, Sun Kwok of the University of Hong Kong, said.
Such chemical complexity was thought to arise only from living organisms, but the results of the new study show that these organic compounds can be created in space even when no life forms are present. In fact, such complex organics could be produced naturally by stars, and at an extremely rapid pace.
"What impressed me most is that complex organics are easily formed by stars, they are everywhere in our own galaxy and in other galaxies," Kwok told Space.com in an email interview. "Nature is much more clever than we had imagined."
The findings of the new study were published online Wednesday by the journal Nature.
[h2]Scanning the cosmos in infrared[/h2]
Kwok and his colleague Yong Zhang, also of the University of Hong Kong, studied a set of well-known but mysterious infrared emissions found in stars, interstellar space and galaxies. These phenomena, which are collectively called Unidentified Infrared Emission (UIE) features, have been known for 30 years, but the exact source of the emissions has not been pinned down, and remains a broad assumption.
"In the astronomy community, it has been commonly assumed that the UIE features are emitted by (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or PAH) molecules, which are simple, purely aromatic, molecules made of carbon and hydrogen," Kwok said. "Our paper suggests that the PAH hypothesis is not correct."
Kwok and Zhang analyzed data from the European Space Agency's Infrared Space Observatory and NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to show that the Unidentified Infrared Emission features are not emitted by PAH molecules because the emissions have chemical structures that are far more complex.
"I have been suspecting this for many years," Kwok said. "Now we think we have the evidence."
The researchers observed stars at different phases of stellar evolution — first low- to medium-mass stars, then stars in the protoplanetary nebula phase, which is a short-lived episode during a star's rapid evolution, and finally stars in the planetary nebula phase, which is characterized by an expanding shell of ionized gas that is ejected by certain types of stars late in their life.
Kwok and his colleague found that characteristics of the Unidentified Infrared Emission features could not be detected in low- to medium-mass stars. But, the astronomers found that the emissions began to appear in stars in the protoplanetary nebula stage and grew stronger as the stars matured into the planetary nebula phase.
"We therefore know that these organics are being made in the circumstellar stellar environment," Kwok said.
[h2]More surprises[/h2]
Another surprising thing they found was just how quickly stars were generating complex organic compounds and ejecting the dusty material into their surrounding environment.
"Since we know their dynamical and evolutionary ages of these objects (dynamical age is how fast the nebula will disperse, and evolutionary age is how fast the star is evolving), we can put constraints on the chemical time scales," Kwok said. "Since the dynamical/evolution ages are of the order of thousands of years, the appearance of the spectral features suggests that the organic compounds are made on time scales shorter than thousands of years."
The researchers also studied emissions from exploding stars and found that these dynamic cosmic events produced dust even more rapidly.
"Their spectra changed from a pure gas spectrum to a dust spectrum on a matter of days or weeks," Kwok said. "The sudden appearance of the features suggests that organic dust can be made extremely quickly."
But, the findings throw a wrench into existing theories that posit that stars cannot produce such complex organic compounds in the near-vacuum environment of space.
"Theoretically, it is very difficult to understand because of the very low density of the circumstellar environment," Kwok said. "But, observationally, there is no doubt as we see these spectral features appearing and changing on very short time scales. This means that these organic solids are condensing directly from the gas phase."
[h2]Star dust and the early solar system[/h2]
The scientists also found that the chemical structure of organic star dust is similar to complex organics found in meteorites. Since meteorites originate from space rocks that are remnants of the early solar system, the results of the study suggest that stars could have enriched the early solar system with organic compounds, Kwok said.
"It is quite possible that the organics in meteorites are remnants of star dust in the solar nebula," he explained. "The star dust (was) ejected by nearby planetary nebula(s) and survived the journey across the galaxy."
Early in the Earth's formation history, the planet was pummeled in a shower of meteorites and comets during a period known as the Late Heavy Bombardment. Since the organic compounds in meteorites are similar to what was found in stellar dust, the results of this new study show that the barrage of meteorites that fell to Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment could have carried organic star dust.
While it may be too soon to determine whether these organic compounds played a role in kick-starting the development of life on Earth, it certainly is a possibility, Kwok said.
"If this is the case, life on Earth may have had an easier time getting started as these organics can serve as basic ingredients for life," he said.
Further research in this area will be necessary, and Kwok intends to continue analyzing additional infrared observations to better pin down the chemical structure of organic star dust. He is also interested in studying more about how and why stars are able to produce complex organics as quickly as they seem to.
"Coal and kerogen are products of life and it took a long time for them to form," Kwok said. "How do stars make such complicated organics under seemingly unfavorable conditions and (do) it so rapidly?"
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Prof. Sun Kwok and Dr. Yong Zhang of the University of Hong Kong show that an organic substance commonly found throughout the Universe contains a mixture of aromatic (ring-like) and aliphatic (chain-like) components. The compounds are so complex that their chemical structures resemble those of coal and petroleum. Since coal and oil are remnants of ancient life, this type of organic matter was thought to arise only from living organisms. The team's discovery suggests that complex organic compounds can be synthesized in space even when no life forms are present.
The researchers investigated an unsolved phenomenon: a set of infrared emissions detected in stars, interstellar space, and galaxies. These spectral signatures are known as "Unidentified Infrared Emission features". For over two decades, the most commonly accepted theory on the origin of these signatures has been that they come from simple organic molecules made of carbon and hydrogen atoms, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. From observations taken by the Infrared Space Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope, Kwok and Zhang showed that the astronomical spectra have features that cannot be explained by PAH molecules. Instead, the team proposes that the substances generating these infrared emissions have chemical structures that are much more complex. By analyzing spectra of star dust formed in exploding stars called novae, they show that stars are making these complex organic compounds on extremely short time scales of weeks.
Not only are stars producing this complex organic matter, they are also ejecting it into the general interstellar space, the region between stars. The work supports an earlier idea proposed by Kwok that old stars are molecular factories capable of manufacturing organic compounds. "Our work has shown that stars have no problem making complex organic compounds under near-vacuum conditions," says Kwok. "Theoretically, this is impossible, but observationally we can see it happening."
Most interestingly, this organic star dust is similar in structure to complex organic compounds found in meteorites. Since meteorites are remnants of the early Solar System, the findings raise the possibility that stars enriched the early Solar System with organic compounds. The early Earth was subjected to severe bombardments by comets and asteroids, which potentially could have carried organic star dust. Whether these delivered organic compounds played any role in the development of life on Earth remains an open question.
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[URL="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45050520/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/cosmic-dust-contains-organic-matter-stars-study-finds/#.TqxI3kM83SY"]Source 1[/URL]
[URL="http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-10-astronomers-complex-universe.html"]Source 2[/URL]
I remember the chapter of Cosmos where Sagan was all excited that we'd found some organic compounds in nebulae, and look at us now!
Interesting to say the least
WE ARE ALL STAR STUFF
WORSHIP RA, THE STAR GOD!
So not only does the sun sustain our existence on earth, it's quite possible it (or another) created us?
Worship it, I say. Those ancients knew what they were doing
Holy fuck.
This could potentially lead to a scientific understanding of the origin of life. I hope I live to the day where a concerted effort is close to actually finding out.
Read the thread title "Astronomers report that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the universe and can be made by stars" real fast and was like, WHOA WHOA WHOA slow THE shit DOWN, what?
Pretty cool stuff!
Star Child
I guess 2001 A Space Odyssey wasn't that far off
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;33027154]So not only does the sun sustain our existence on earth, it's quite possible it (or another) created us?
Worship it, I say. Those ancients knew what they were doing[/QUOTE]
I guess Carlin was right
There's a lot of sense behind believing in something you can actually see.
Well fuck me with a barrel full of chimpanzees.
David Bowie was right.
down with religion
Made me think of this.
[img]http://mediaarchitecture.pbworks.com/f/eatme-slug.jpg[/img]
So we may have very well discovered the source of all life and disproved modern religion once and for all?
So god is our sun? Seems like some religions were right after all.
and then the rapture happened
Stars... creating life? Waaaait what the...
doesn't this increase the odds of extraterrestrial life quite a bit?
[QUOTE=Lord of Ears;33028861]doesn't this increase the odds of extraterrestrial life quite a bit?[/QUOTE]
I'd imagine so, as it means that of the potentially infinite (at the least, trillions) of stars, any number could produce complex organic molecules. It's all a matter of if the molecules were eventually able to turn into something living.
[QUOTE=Lord of Ears;33028861]doesn't this increase the odds of extraterrestrial life quite a bit?[/QUOTE]
there still has to be the right conditions. there would have to be another planet just like earth somewhere.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV3;33028910]there still has to be the right conditions. there would have to be another planet just like earth somewhere.[/QUOTE]
Doesn't have to be just like earth. Organisms can adapt and survive in different conditions. When our earth started out it looked nothing like it does now.
[QUOTE=Stick it in her pooper;33028585]down with religion[/QUOTE]
More like expect a new religion based on an intangible entity that created the universe and watches over us taking the form of suns in the Universe.
Religion will never die, as far as science goes.
[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;33028686]So god is our sun? Seems like some religions were right after all.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/1YkjE.jpg[/img]
Behold the Lord our God
So, wait
We are literally full of stars?
[QUOTE=Cone;33029285]So, wait
We are literally full of stars?[/QUOTE]Probably full of sun's trash.
Yay.
Interesting that the whole "We are Stardust" thing is actually even more literal now, not just that we're the product of it.
[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;33029480]Probably full of sun's trash.[/QUOTE]
A.K.A Humans are a pile of shit
So this means my dick is in family with great old sun himself?
Holy wangs..
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