Tag Archives: clouds

Hubble Captures Stunning Images of Star-Forming Clouds in Nearby Dwarf Galaxy

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Explore the stunning new image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing a section of the N159 star-forming complex located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy approximately 160,000 light-years away from Earth.

This breathtaking Hubble image portrays N159, a vibrant star-forming complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / R. Indebetouw.

N159 stands as one of the most colossal molecular clouds within the Large Magellanic Cloud, making it a noteworthy member of our cosmic neighborhood – the Milky Way galaxy.

Positioned at the southwestern edge of the renowned Tarantula Nebula, N159 spans over 150 light-years across.

The newly released Hubble image captures only a fraction of the expansive N159 complex.

“A dense cloud of cold hydrogen gas predominates the scene, creating a complex array of ridges, cavities, and luminescent filaments,” stated Hubble astronomers.

“Within these thick clouds, newly formed stars begin to blaze, their intense radiation illuminating the surrounding hydrogen in a striking crimson hue.”

“The brightest zones signify the presence of hot, massive young stars whose vigorous stellar winds and energetic light reshape the surrounding space.”

“These powerful forces carve out bubble-like formations and hollow cavities within the gas, clearly illustrating the effects of stellar feedback.”

“Dark clouds in the foreground glow thanks to a new star shining from behind.”

“The illuminated clouds and intricate bubbles reveal the dynamic interplay between star formation and the primordial matter from which stars arise, capturing the perpetual cycles of creation and transformation within this neighboring galaxy.”

Source: www.sci.news

Microbial Colors in Clouds May Indicate Life on Other Planets

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The clouds in our atmosphere host a myriad of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

George Pachantouris/Getty Images

Scientists have for the first time measured the colors of microbes residing in high-altitude clouds, providing insights that could aid the search for extraterrestrial life.

Microorganisms have been found in Earth’s atmosphere at densities reaching up to 100,000 per cubic meter, contributing to cloud formation.

These tiny life forms produce pigments to shield themselves from intense ultraviolet radiation present at high altitudes.

Thus, if similar airborne organisms are present in the atmospheres of other planets, they might be detectable from afar by studying the light wavelengths, or spectra, reflected by those planets. Ligia Coelho from Cornell University in New York notes.

“Essential pigments are robust and surprisingly universal biosignatures,” Coelho explains. “Ultraviolet light is a common stressor for life on any planet with a star, suggesting that reflective pigments serving similar roles could evolve elsewhere.”

To investigate the colors of airborne microorganisms on Earth, Coelho’s team cultured microbes collected by Brent Kritner from the University of Florida and colleagues. Kritner’s team employed helium balloons to collect microorganisms attached to sticky rods at altitudes between 3 and 38 kilometers above the Earth.

Subsequently, Coelho’s team analyzed the reflectance spectra of the colored compounds produced by these microbes, observing a spectrum of colors from yellow to orange to pink, manifested by carotenoid pigments like beta-carotene, commonly found in carrots.

Finally, the team simulated how these spectra might alter across various planetary conditions, including wetter and drier environments.

“For the first time, we possess actual reflectance spectra of pigmented microorganisms in the atmosphere, which can serve as reference points for modeling and detecting life forms within clouds,” stated Coelho.

Astronomers are actively searching for signs of life beyond our solar system by analyzing light reflected from planets, which reveals the chemical footprints of gases—like oxygen and methane—that may be produced by biological activities, as well as indicators of surface life such as green chlorophyll generated by vegetation and microorganisms.

Up until recent findings, clouds surrounding exoplanets were perceived as obstructions, hindering the identification of atmospheric and surface-level biosignatures.

“Our planetary simulations indicate that when exoplanetary clouds are rich in these microorganisms, their spectra can change in identifiable ways,” Coelho elaborates.

Forthcoming space telescopes, such as NASA’s proposed Habitable World Observatory, could bolster efforts to search for life in other star systems.

Nevertheless, even with advancements in technology, the concentrations of airborne microorganisms need to be significantly high to be detected from extensive distances. “The concentrations of these organisms present in Earth’s atmosphere are currently below our detection limits,” Coelho remarked.

“According to the expected resolution of NASA’s Habitable World Observatory (which we modeled in this study), we would require microbial cell densities akin to those found in oceanic algal blooms, which are typically detectable from space.”

Claire Fletcher, a researcher from the University of New South Wales, suggests that it may be advantageous to search for carotenoids produced by microbes in the stratosphere alongside chlorophyll from plant life. “However, while we assume that life on these exoplanets will mirror that of Earth, this assumption may not hold true,” she cautions.

Peter Tuthill, a professor at the University of Sydney, expresses skepticism regarding the utility of the stratospheric biosignatures identified in the study for extraterrestrial life detection. “I appreciate the fact that we don’t need to engineer devices to detect biosignatures amidst noise from distances of 20 parsecs,” he remarks.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Can Cells Form in Venus’s Clouds? – Cyworthy

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Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often called Earth’s sister planet. If extraterrestrial observers on a remote exoplanet were to analyze our solar system with the same methods used by observers on Earth today, the two planets would appear strikingly similar. Both are rocky, with nearly identical diameters and masses, and both exist within or near the solar system’s habitable zone. However, only one of them is known to support life.

A significant difference between the two planets—and a likely reason for the first—is their atmospheric compositions. Earth’s atmosphere comprises approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, whereas Venus’ atmosphere consists of more than 96% carbon dioxide. In the distant past, volcanic activity released this carbon dioxide, triggering an uncontrollable greenhouse effect. This process, coupled with Venus’ proximity to the Sun, has driven its surface temperature to a searing 500°C (900°F).

Harold Morowitz and Carl Sagan first observed in 1967 that although Venus’ barren surfaces may be inhospitable to life as we know it, its clouds present “an entirely different story,” according to Morowitz. The upper atmosphere of Venus contains low levels of water vapor and cloud regions characterized by extreme temperatures and pressures. These conditions could potentially support some types of terrestrial microorganisms and have led scientists to investigate the clouds of Venus. In the 1970s, these clouds were found to be primarily composed of sulfuric acid, which is considered incompatible with life. Nevertheless, a controversial detection of phosphine—gases found in Venus’ clouds that could be produced by microbes on Earth—has prompted some astrobiologists to reevaluate this notion of habitability. This has opened discussions on potential habitability.

Previously, researchers established that biomolecules such as the nucleic acids forming DNA can remain stable for up to one year in sulfuric acid concentrations ranging from 81% to 98%. To advance this research, scientists at the University of Chicago have recently tested whether more complex organic structures can also form in concentrated sulfuric acid.

They began with a set of carbon-based molecules known as lipids. Lipids serve as the foundation of cell membranes, acting as a barrier to the external environment and regulating what enters and exits the cell. The research team contended that cell membranes are essential for life, especially under extreme conditions like those present in Venus’ clouds. Thus, they evaluated whether simple lipids could create membranous structures called vesicles in concentrated sulfuric acid.

Membrane lipids feature one side that is attracted to water, known as the hydrophilic side, and another that repels water, termed the hydrophobic side (Figure below, left). The hydrophilic side consists of long carbon chains, referred to as tails, while the hydrophobic side comprises charged compounds known as polar heads. In cell membranes, lipids are arranged in bilayers, with hydrophilic tails oriented inwards and hydrophobic heads facing outwards (Figure below, right). The research team selected simple, commercially available lipids with tails of 10 or 18 carbon atoms and polar heads of trimethylamine, sulfate, and phosphonate. These tailed lipids were chosen for their solubility and ability to form membrane structures due to their hydrophobic nature.

Illustration of a single simple lipid (left) and stacked lipids forming a cell membrane structure (right). Created by the author.

To assess the lipids’ resilience against sulfuric acid, various concentrations of each 10-carbon lipid were incubated in 1%, 30%, and 70% sulfuric acid for a minimum of 1 hour at room temperature. Utilizing a method that evaluates molecular structures based on their magnetic properties, they examined how increasing acid concentrations affected the lipids. Results indicated that trimethylamine and phosphonate lipids remained stable in up to 70% sulfuric acid, although around 20% of the sulfate head degraded.

The researchers then explored whether the lipids could form vesicles in these sulfuric acid solutions. They prepared lipid mixtures across varying concentrations in 70% to 90% sulfuric acid, measuring the particle size of the lipid-acid mixture using light scattering techniques. They discovered that a 50/50 blend of 10-carbon or 18-carbon lipids produced particles comparable in size to typical vesicles in 70% and 80% sulfuric acid solutions, with these particles maintaining stability even after a week.

Upon examination under a high-powered microscope, the lipid particles formed foam-like vesicles. Lastly, numerical models illustrated that the charged ends of lipid and acid molecules interact at the molecular level to help stabilize the vesicles and prevent the entry of acid.

The researchers concluded that simple lipids can create stable membrane-like structures in sulfuric acid concentrations similar to those found in Venusian clouds. They recommended that future studies conduct laboratory experiments to validate the molecular model and ascertain whether lipid membranes can effectively block sulfuric acid. These scientists are beginning to formulate a clearer picture of the potential types of life that could exist within the cloud layers of Venus, although that picture remains largely incomplete.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Mysterious Clouds on Mars Appear Annually—Here’s the Explanation.

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Arciamon's clouds

Unusual clouds form on the Arcia Mon, a volcano on Mars every year.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/J. Cowart CC by-sa 3.0 Igo

The delicate clouds that appear on Mars annually have intrigued astronomers since their initial discovery, likely stemming from a water-rich atmosphere that seems implausible.

Each winter, clouds spanning 1,800 kilometers form near the Arsia Mons, located in the southern hemisphere of Mars, emerging and dissipating daily for nearly three months. The atmospheric conditions on Mars vastly differ from Earth’s, notably with an abundance of fine dust particles that can cause water vapor in the atmosphere to condense into cloud particles. This results in cloud patterns unique to Mars, yet simulations accounting for these high dust levels do not replicate the distinct features of the Arsia Mons Cloud.

Now, Jorge Hernandez Bernal from the University of Sorbonne in France and his team propose that an exceptionally high amount of water vapor in the atmosphere could recreate these cloud characteristics. Elevated levels of water vapor aid in cloud particle formation through alternative dust-free processes known as homogeneous nucleation.

When researchers conducted atmospheric simulations around Arsia Mons that featured increased water content, the resulting cloud formations bore a striking resemblance to the actual clouds.

“Uniform nucleation necessitates much greater water levels on Mars. [Water] saturation is required. Initially, I believed this to be improbable or extremely unlikely on Mars,” said Hernandez Bernal at the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) on September 10th, held in Helsinki, Finland. “However, over the last decade, we’ve discovered that Mars can indeed exhibit supersaturation.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Hubble Discovers Dusty Clouds in the Tarantula Nebula

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The stunning new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals intriguing details of the Tarantula Nebula, a dynamic region of star formation located in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

This Hubble image showcases part of the Tarantula Nebula, located about 163,000 light years away in the Dorado constellation. The colorful image is a composite of various exposures captured by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) across ultraviolet, near-infrared, and spectral optical ranges. It is based on data collected using four different filters. Colors have been assigned by applying various hues to each monochromatic image produced by the individual filters. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/C. Murray.

The Tarantula Nebula is situated roughly 163,000 light years from the southern constellation of Dorado.

Also known as NGC 2070 or 30 Dorados, this nebula is part of the expansive Magellanic Cloud, which is one of our closest galactic neighbors.

The nebula’s brilliant glow was first observed in 1751 by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.

At its core lies some of the most massive stars known, with some reaching up to 200 solar masses, making this region ideal for studying how gas clouds collapse under gravitational forces to give rise to new stars.

“The Tarantula Nebula is the largest and brightest area of star formation not only within the Large Magellanic Cloud but also among the entire group of nearby galaxies that include the Milky Way,” astronomers associated with Hubble stated.

“Within the nebula are some of the most massive stars discovered, some of which are approximately 200 times the mass of our Sun.”

“The scene depicted here is located far from the nebula’s center, where the superstar cluster known as R136 resides, but is quite close to a rare star called the Wolf-Rayet Star.”

“The Wolf-Rayet star is an enormous star that has shed its outer hydrogen layers; it is extremely hot, bright, and generates a dense, powerful wind,” they elaborated.

The Tarantula Nebula is frequently observed by Hubble, and its multi-wavelength capabilities play a crucial role in capturing the intricate details of the nebula’s dusty cloud formations.

“The data used to produce this image come from an observational program known as Scylla, which is named after the multi-faceted sea monster from the Greek mythology of Ulysses,” the astronomer noted.

“The Scylla program was developed to complement another Hubble observational initiative called Ulysses (the Ultraviolet Legacy Library of Young Stars as a fundamental criterion).”

“While Ulysses focuses on giant young stars in the small Magellanic Cloud, Scylla explores the gas and dust structures surrounding these stars.”

Source: www.sci.news

20 Million Clouds of Energy Particles Found Surrounding Distant Galaxy Clusters

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Astronomers have identified the largest known cloud of energy particles encircling galaxy clusters, with around 20 million annual clouds around the galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9.

This new composite image, created using X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and purple), radio data from Meerkat Radio Telescope (orange and yellow), and optical images from Panstarrs (red, green, and blue), illustrates the giant galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9. Image credit: NASA/CXC/CFA/Rajpurohit et al. / panstarrs / sarao / meerkat / sao / n. wolk.

Located 5 billion light years from Earth in the Hydra constellation, PLCK G287.0+32.9 has garnered astronomers’ attention since its initial detection in 2011.

Prior research uncovered two bright relics, revealing a massive shock wave illuminating the cluster’s edges. However, the extensive, faint radio emissions filling the space between them went unnoticed.

Recent radio images have shown that the entire cluster is enveloped in a faint radio glow that is nearly 20 times the diameter of the Milky Way, suggesting an extraordinary and powerful phenomenon at play.

“We anticipated finding a bright pair of relics at the cluster’s edge. Found “The Harvard & Smithsonian Astrophysics Center” mentioned: “The Harvard & Smithsonian’s Astrophysics Center is a great way to help you get started,” Dr. Kamursh Rajprohit, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, noted.

“No energy particle clouds of this magnitude have been spotted in such galaxy clusters or anything comparable.”

Previous record holders, located around Abel 2255 in the Galaxy Cluster, spanned about 16.3 million light years.

In the central region of the cluster, Dr. Rajprohit and his team identified radio halos where frequencies of this scale are typically undetectable, marking the first discovery of size at 114 million light years at 2.4 GHz.

The findings posed questions for the team, providing compelling evidence of magnetic fields where cosmic ray electrons and magnetic fields extend throughout the cluster.

However, it remains uncertain how these electrons can accelerate over such vast distances.

“Very extended radio halos are seldom visible across most frequencies, as the electrons responsible for them tend to lose energy. They are aged and have cooled over time,” Dr. Rajpurohit stated.

“The discovery of this colossal halo has now led to a significant increase in radio emissions between the catastrophic impact and the rest of the cluster.”

“This suggests something is actively accelerating or re-accelerating the electrons, yet none of the usual explanations apply.”

“We suspect that extensive shock waves and turbulence may be contributing factors, but additional theoretical models are needed to arrive at a definitive conclusion.”

This discovery offers researchers a new pathway to investigate cosmic magnetic fields—one of the primary unanswered questions in astrophysics—helping to elucidate how magnetic fields shape the universe on the largest scales.

“We’re beginning to perceive space in ways we have never imagined,” Dr. Rajprohit emphasized.

“This necessitates a reevaluation of how energy and matter traverse through its grandest structures.”

“Observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, managed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, reveal boxy structures, comet-like tails, and several other distinct features of the cluster’s hot gas, indicating that the cluster is highly disturbed.”

“Some of these X-ray features correspond with radio-detected structures, pointing to substantial shocks and turbulence driven by merging events, facilitating electron acceleration or re-acceleration.”

“In the core of a cluster, some of these features may arise from the merger of two smaller galaxy clusters, or an explosion triggered by an exceptionally large black hole, or a combination of both.”

Source: www.sci.news

Sahara Dust Clouds Suffocating the Caribbean en Route to the U.S.

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San Juan, Puerto Rico – Enveloped in a significant amount of dust clouds from the Sahara Desert, the Caribbean is headed towards the US on Monday for one of the year’s most noteworthy events.

These clouds have expanded from Jamaica, stretching approximately 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) past Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean, and about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from the Turks and Caicos Islands down to Trinidad and Tobago.

“It’s quite remarkable,” noted Alex Dasilva, a hurricane expert at Accuweather.

The hazy skies have triggered sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes throughout the Caribbean. Local meteorologists are advising individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues to stay indoors or wear face masks when outside.

Idiana Zayas, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, reported elevated dust levels.

As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an aerosol’s optical depth quantifies how many particles obstruct sunlight from reaching the ground.

The plume is anticipated to reach Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi later this week and over the weekend, Dasilva mentioned.

However, he indicated that plumes often lose much of their density in the Eastern Caribbean.

“These islands typically face higher concentrations that can partially block sunlight, leading to more noticeable effects,” he remarked.

The dry, dusty air known as the Saharan air layer originates from the African Sahara Desert and travels westward from around April to October, according to NOAA. It also hinders the formation of tropical waves during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

June and July generally see the highest average dust concentrations, with plumes moving between 5,000 and 20,000 feet above ground, Dasilva pointed out.

In June 2020, record levels of Sahara dust filled the Caribbean. The scale and density of the plume were unprecedented in half a century, prompting forecasters to label it the “Godzilla Dust Cloud.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Hubble Reveals a Vibrant Nebula in the Large Magellanic Clouds

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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope capture breathtaking views of a significant section of the nebula within the Large Magellanic Cloud, the largest of several small satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way.

This Hubble image illustrates a segment of the vivid nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy situated 160,000 light-years away in the constellations Dorado and Mensa. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/C. Murray.

This latest image was created using individual exposures captured across ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) was instrumental in this achievement.

“This portrayal of the dust-laden gas clouds within the Large Magellanic Cloud is made possible by Hubble’s advanced cameras, particularly the WFC3, which collected these observations,” stated Hubble astronomers.

“The WFC3 features an array of filters, each allowing light of a specific wavelength or color to pass through.”

“The image is a composite from five different filters, including one designed to capture ultraviolet and infrared radiation, which is invisible to the human eye.”

“The delicate gas clouds depicted resemble colorful cotton candy,” remarked the researchers.

“When encountering a cosmic scene with such vivid hues, it’s only natural to question the authenticity of these colors.”

“After all, the Hubble is equipped with a 2.4m diameter mirror and sophisticated scientific instruments, unlike typical cameras!”

“As image processing experts merge the raw filtered data into these multi-colored representations, they assign distinct colors to each filter.”

“Observations in visible light correspond to the colors passed through the respective filter.”

“Shorter light wavelengths, like ultraviolet rays, typically appear blue or purple, whereas longer wavelengths, such as infrared rays, are usually depicted as red.”

“This color scheme closely mirrors reality, revealing new insights from parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that are invisible to human eyes.”

“Nevertheless, countless color combinations can be employed to create images that are not only aesthetically striking but also scientifically valuable.”

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Glowing Dark Clouds and Molecules Near Earth

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Stars and planets arise from swirling clouds of cosmic gas and dust, primarily composed of hydrogen and other molecular elements. On Monday, astronomers announced the discovery of the closest known cloud to Earth, a vast, crescent-shaped region teeming with potential for star formation.

This cloud, located approximately 300 light-years from our solar system, has been named after EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn. It is the first molecular cloud identified through hydrogen fluorescence, according to Blakeley Burkhart, an astrophysicist at Rutgers University.

“If you observe these clouds in the sky, they’re enormous,” Dr. Burkhart stated. The findings were published in conjunction with a colleague in the Nature Astronomy Journal. She also remarked, “It literally glows in the darkness.”

Investigating clouds like EO, especially regarding their hydrogen content, could reshape astronomers’ understanding of the galactic material available for planet and star formation. This research also provides insights into the rates of formation and destruction of the materials that fuel these processes.

“For the first time, we are observing this hidden reservoir of hydrogen that can create stars,” explained Thavisha Dharmawardena, an astronomer at New York University and co-author of the study. Following the discovery of EOS, astronomers expressed a desire to identify more hydrogen-rich clouds.

Molecular hydrogen, which consists of two hydrogen atoms, is the universe’s most abundant substance. This stellar nursery contains it abundantly. However, detecting these molecules from the ground is challenging because they emit light at wavelengths easily absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere.

In contrast, carbon monoxide—composed of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom—is simpler to detect. It emits light at longer wavelengths, making it accessible for observation with radio telescopes commonly used to identify star-forming clouds.

EOS eluded detection for a long time due to its unexpected nature and low carbon monoxide levels.

Dr. Burkhart identified the cloud while analyzing data from approximately 20 years earlier from the Far-Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (FIMS), an instrument aboard a Korean satellite. She found molecular hydrogen signatures in areas where she believed no molecular cloud existed and collaborated with Dr. Dharmawardena for deeper investigation.

“At this stage, I was familiar with nearly every molecular cloud by name,” Dr. Dharmawardena noted. “I had no awareness of this particular structure; I couldn’t comprehend it.”

Dr. Dharmawardena confirmed the discovery against the 3D map of interstellar dust in our galaxy, which was developed using data from the now-retired Gaia Space Telescope. “EOS was distinctly outlined and visible,” she commented. “It’s a stunning structure.”

John Black, an astronomer at Sweden’s Chalmers Institute of Technology, lauded the methods used to unveil EOS, though he was not part of the research team.

“It’s remarkable to witness molecular hydrogen firsthand and trace the outline of this cloud,” Dr. Black remarked. He added that, compared to carbon monoxide, hydrogen reveals the “authentic shape and size” of EOS.

Utilizing molecular hydrogen data, astronomers estimated the mass of EO to be about 3,400 times that of our Sun, significantly exceeding the carbon monoxide-based estimate of 20 solar masses.

Dr. Burkhart suggested that similar carbon monoxide measurements may underrepresent the mass of other molecular clouds. She emphasized the significance of this finding in stellar formation, as larger clouds can spawn larger stars.

In a follow-up study, EOS, which remains unreviewed, revealed that the cloud has not produced a star previously. However, the future potential for star formation remains uncertain.

Dr. Burkhart collaborated with a team of astronomers to conceptualize a NASA spacecraft named EOS, which inspired the cloud’s name. This proposed space telescope aims to map molecular hydrogen content in clouds across the galaxy, including its namesake.

Such a mission could enhance our understanding of the potential for more concealed clouds and known stellar clouds to contribute to star and planet formation.

“I genuinely don’t know how stars and planets come into being,” Dr. Burkhart admitted. “By observing molecular hydrogen firsthand, we can gain insights into how the birthplaces of stars form and how they ultimately fade away.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Astronomers Discover Massive Molecular Hydrogen Clouds Close to the Solar System

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Recently identified by astronomers, this newly discovered molecular cloud is one of the largest structures in the sky and is among the closest to the Sun and Earth ever detected.

The EOS Cloud is situated at the boundary of your local bubble—a region populated by large gases within the solar system. Image credits: Thomas Müller, HDA & MPIA/Thavisha Dharmawardena, NYU.

Molecular clouds consist of gas and dust, primarily composed of hydrogen, the most prevalent molecule in the universe and essential for the formation of all known stars and planets.

Additionally, these structures harbor other molecules, including carbon monoxide.

Traditional detection methods for molecular clouds often involve wireless and infrared observations, which readily capture the chemical signatures of carbon monoxide.

However, Blakely Burkhart, an astrophysicist from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and his team took a different approach.

“This is the first molecular cloud discovered by directly seeking out the distant ultraviolet radiation of molecular hydrogen,” Dr. Burkhart stated.

“Our data revealed glowing hydrogen molecules detected through fluorescence in distant ultraviolet light. This cloud truly shines in the dark.”

The new molecular cloud, named EOS, was located approximately 300 light-years from Earth and can be viewed here.

It resides at the periphery of a local bubble, a region filled with gases surrounding the solar system.

Astronomers estimate that these crescent clouds are immense, spanning about 40 months across the sky and having a mass approximately 3,400 times that of the Sun.

They are projected to dissipate within 6 million years.

According to the research team, the EOS cloud poses no threat to Earth or the solar system.

Its proximity offers a unique opportunity to explore the properties of structures within the interstellar medium.

The interstellar medium, composed of gas and dust, fills the space between stars in the galaxy and is a key source for new star formation.

“When you look through a telescope, you observe the solar system in its formative phase, but the exact process remains unclear,” Dr. Burkhart explained.

“The discovery of EOS is thrilling because it allows us to directly measure how molecular clouds form and dissolve, as well as how galaxies transform interstellar gas and dust into stars and planets.”

The EOS Cloud was identified using data from the FIMS-Spear Far-ultraviolet spectrograph aboard the Korean satellite STSAT-1.

“Utilizing distant UV fluorescence technology could redefine our understanding of the interstellar medium, uncover hidden clouds across the galaxy, and even push our exploration further back to the very edge of the universe’s inception.”

The findings are reported in a study published today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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B. Burke Hart et al. Dark molecular clouds near local bubbles revealed via H2 fluorescence. Nature Astronomy. Published online on April 28, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02541-7

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Discover Giant Star-Forming Clouds Unusually Near Earth

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One of the most immense singular formations observed in the cosmos, these expansive hydrogen gas clouds, have been found surprisingly close to Earth.

Naming it EOS, after the Greek goddess of dawn, the cloud was discovered through the faint ultraviolet light emitted by hydrogen molecules.

Referred to as molecular clouds, these colossal structures of gas and dust serve as nurseries for new stars.

Historically, astronomers have depended on radio and infrared telescopes to locate these clouds, detecting the carbon monoxide signature. However, scientists took a distinct approach to uncover EOS.

“This marks the first molecular cloud identified through the direct search for distant ultraviolet emissions of molecular hydrogen,” stated Professor Blakesley Burkhart, the leading researcher on the project.

“The data revealed glowing hydrogen molecules detected through fluorescence in distant ultraviolet rays. This cloud truly shines in the dark.”

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2025/04/eos.mp4
Scientists have identified potential star-forming clouds, designated EO. It ranks among the largest single structures in the sky and is one of the nearest formations to the sun and earth ever observed.

Situated just 300 light years from Earth at the confines of a gas-rich area known as the local bubble, EOS spans a region of sky comparable to a full moon width of 40 and possesses approximately 3,400 times the sun’s mass.

Despite its size and proximity, it remained concealed due to being “co-dark,” which indicates a deficiency of carbon monoxide that traditional detection methods rely on.

“The discovery of EOS is thrilling because it allows us to directly observe the formation and dissociation of molecular clouds and how galaxies transform interstellar gases and dust into stars and planets,” Burkhart commented.

Dr. Thavisha Dharmawardena noted, “During my graduate studies, I was informed that observing molecular hydrogen wasn’t straightforward.”

The data was acquired using a Faltraviolet spectrometer installed on the Korean satellite STSAT-1. Published in 2023, Burkhart quickly unearthed a concealed structure.

“The story of the cosmos is one of billions of years of atomic transformation,” Burkhart explained.

“The hydrogen found in the EOS cloud dates back to the Big Bang and eventually fell into our galaxy, merging near the sun. Thus, these hydrogen atoms have traveled a remarkable 13.6 billion-year journey.”

The research findings were published in the journal Natural Astronomy.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Curiosity Rover Discovers Noctilucent Clouds in Mars Atmosphere

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New images and shows taken over 16 minutes by the Mastcam Instrument of NASA’s Curiosity Rover on January 17, 2025 Night or in twilight cloudsin the atmosphere of Mars. Sometimes these clouds create rainbows of color, creating rainbow clouds and mother clouds. If it is too faint to be visible in the daytime, the clouds will be particularly high and only visible when the evening falls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnaqwu1wzm4

Mars clouds are made of either water ice or carbon dioxide ice at higher altitudes and lower temperatures.

The latter is the only kind of cloud observed on the red planet, producing rainbow colors, and can be seen near the top of the new image at an altitude of 60-80 km (37-50 miles).

It also appears that white feathers fall into the atmosphere on a low ride 50 km (31 miles) from the surface before evaporating due to rising temperatures.

Temporarily visible at the bottom of the image are water ice clouds moving in the opposite direction about 50 km of the curiosity rover.

This Curiosity/Mastcam image shows simultaneous clouds in the atmosphere of Mars. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/SSI.

“When I first saw these rainbow clouds, I always remember, but at first I was sure it was a few colour artifacts,” said the Atmospheric Scientist at the Institute of Space Science. said one Dr. Mark Lemon.

“It’s now predictable, so you can plan your shots ahead of time. Clouds appear at the exact same time.”

“Each sighting is an opportunity to learn more about the particle size and growth rates of Mars clouds, which will provide you with more information about the planet’s atmosphere.”

“The potential source of clouds can be gravitational waves, which can cool the atmosphere.”

“We weren’t expecting carbon dioxide to condense into ice here, so we’re cooling until something is likely to happen.”

“However, the gravitational waves on Mars are not fully understood, and we are not entirely aware of what the Twilight clouds are formed in one place and not elsewhere. “

Source: www.sci.news

Illuminating the clouds: How enhancing brightness can combat climate change

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The concept of Marine Cloud Brightening revolves around the idea that by making clouds brighter or whiter, more sunlight is reflected back into space. This ultimately helps reduce the amount of heat absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and offers a respite from the effects of increased carbon emissions.

Clouds in marine environments are believed to benefit the most from such brightening efforts. But how exactly does one go about brightening clouds, and does it work as effectively as theorized?

Scientists primarily suggest spraying aerosols, such as fine sea salt particles, to brighten clouds. These aerosols act as “condensation nuclei” within the clouds, promoting water vapor to form more liquid droplets and creating denser, brighter clouds. A similar effect can be seen with pollution particles.

Fun fact: Some clouds can contain 500,000 kg (or £ 1.1 million) of water. That’s about 100 elephants -Photo Credit: Getty

However, the challenge lies in ensuring the particles sprayed are of the right size to effectively brighten the clouds at the appropriate time. Additionally, achieving significant sunlight reflection requires scaling up the operation sufficiently. There is also the concern of unforeseen impacts on clouds and climate.

Current research efforts mainly involve small-scale experiments and computer simulations, though some real-world studies have raised questions. For instance, a bright cloud experiment in Arameda, California was halted in May following warnings from local authorities reported in the media.

Experts have suggested that useful insights can be gleaned from “natural” experiments as well. Observations near the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii showed that aerosols generated naturally during the eruption led to a 50% increase in cloud cover. 。

Ultimately, the decision on whether to pursue large-scale marine cloud brightening rests with policymakers, who require convincing evidence. As scientific understanding and the climate crisis evolve, attitudes may shift.

This article addresses the question (I asked from Besariany Shepherd, Derbyshire) “Is Marine Cloud Brightening useful for fighting climate change?”

To submit a question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com or send a message via our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Page (remember to include your name and location).

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Studies indicate that Jupiter’s clouds are made up of ammonium bisulfide

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Astronomers have long believed that Jupiter's upper clouds, which form the planet's iconic light brown bands, are made of frozen ammonia. But new research shows that these clouds are actually lower in the atmosphere than we thought, and are made of ammonium bisulfide mixed with smog.

Hubble's photos of Jupiter show an ever-changing landscape due to its turbulent atmosphere. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Michael H. Wong, University of California, Berkeley / Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

Citizen scientist Steve Hill has previously shown that it is possible to map a planet's atmosphere using just a special colored filter and a backyard telescope.

These results provided the first clue that the clouds are too deep in Jupiter's warm atmosphere to match clouds made of ammonia ice.

To find out, Hill and a team of professional astronomers from the University of Oxford, the University of Leicester and the British Astronomical Society used the MUSE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) to study the atmospheres of gas giant planets. did.

“MUSE will be able to scan Jupiter's atmosphere at different wavelengths and map the different molecules that make up Jupiter's atmosphere,” they said.

Their study shows that a new approach using backyard telescopes or VLT/MUSE can map the abundance of ammonia in Jupiter's atmosphere with remarkable accuracy.

In terms of clouds, they concluded that Jupiter's atmosphere closely resembles a layered cake.

A cloud of ammonium hydrosulfide covers the upper layer, but decorations of ammonia ice clouds carried to the top by strong vertical convection can also be seen.

However, the overall structure of the cake is still not fully understood, and the work of citizen scientists may be the key to figuring it out.

So the next time you gaze at Jupiter or Saturn from your backyard, you just might be uncovering some hidden secrets in our solar system.

“We tested the reliability of the filter imaging technique by applying it to VLT/MUSE observations of Jupiter and found that the method closely matches more sophisticated analyzes of these observations and is also consistent with observations of Jupiter.” We have shown that the microwave wavelengths studied by NASA's Juno spacecraft and the Super Large Array yield surprisingly reliable results,” the astronomers said.

“We show that the main reflection level at red wavelengths is at the 2-3 bar level, which is much lower than the expected ammonia ice cloud condensation level of 0.7 bar, and the ammonia We conclude that ice cannot be the main cloud component.”

“We also showed that the same technique can be applied to MUSE observations of Saturn, where extracted ammonia maps were measured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope at pressures greater than 2 We found a very good agreement with the ammonia abundance.

of findings will appear in Geophysical Research Journal: Planets.

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Patrick G.J. Irwin others. 2025. Clouds and ammonia in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are determined from band depth analysis of VLT/MUSE observations. JGR Planets 130 (1): e2024JE008622;doi: 10.1029/2024JE008622

Source: www.sci.news

New research indicates that Jupiter’s clouds are made up of ammonium bisulfide

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Astronomers have long believed that Jupiter’s upper clouds, which form the planet’s iconic light brown bands, are made of frozen ammonia. But new research shows that these clouds are actually lower in the atmosphere than we thought, and are made of ammonium bisulfide mixed with smog.

Hubble’s photos of Jupiter show an ever-changing landscape due to its turbulent atmosphere. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Michael H. Wong, University of California, Berkeley / Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

Citizen scientist Steve Hill has previously shown that it is possible to map a planet’s atmosphere using just a special colored filter and a backyard telescope.

These results provided the first clue that the clouds are too deep in Jupiter’s warm atmosphere to match clouds made of ammonia ice.

To find out, Hill and a team of professional astronomers from the University of Oxford, the University of Leicester and the British Astronomical Society used the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) to study the atmospheres of gas giant planets. did.

“MUSE will be able to scan Jupiter’s atmosphere at different wavelengths and map the different molecules that make up Jupiter’s atmosphere,” they said.

Their study shows that a new approach using backyard telescopes or VLT/MUSE can map the abundance of ammonia in Jupiter’s atmosphere with remarkable precision.

In terms of clouds, they concluded that Jupiter’s atmosphere closely resembles a layered cake.

Ammonium hydrosulfide clouds cover the upper levels, and in some cases decorations of ammonia ice clouds carried to the top by strong vertical convection can be seen.

However, the overall structure of the cake is still not completely understood, and the work of citizen scientists may be the key to figuring it out.

So the next time you gaze at Jupiter or Saturn from your backyard, you just might be uncovering some hidden secrets in our solar system.

“We tested the reliability of the filter imaging technique by applying it to VLT/MUSE observations of Jupiter and found that the method closely matches more sophisticated analyzes of these observations and is also consistent with observations of Jupiter. “We have shown that the microwave wavelengths studied by NASA’s Juno spacecraft and the Super Large Array yield surprisingly reliable results,” the astronomers said.

“We show that the predominant reflection level at red wavelengths is at the 2-3 bar level, which is much lower than the expected ammonia ice cloud condensation level of 0.7 bar, and the ammonia We conclude that ice cannot be the main cloud component.”

“We also showed that the same technique can be applied to MUSE observations of Saturn, where extracted ammonia maps were measured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope at pressures greater than 2 We found a very good agreement with the ammonia abundance.

of findings will appear in Geophysical Research Journal: Planets.

_____

Patrick G.J. Irwin others. 2025. Clouds and ammonia in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are determined from band depth analysis of VLT/MUSE observations. JGR Planets 130 (1): e2024JE008622;doi: 10.1029/2024JE008622

Source: www.sci.news

Incredible Scientific Phenomenon of Rainbow Clouds

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During midwinter, under the right conditions, the polar sky can be transformed into a colorful spectacle by shimmering clouds.

These rainbow clouds, also known as “nacre clouds” due to their resemblance to iridescent shells, are an incredibly rare atmospheric phenomenon.

Scientifically referred to as “polar stratospheric clouds,” they exist at much higher altitudes in the atmosphere compared to typical clouds. While most clouds are found below 10 km above the Earth’s surface, rainbow clouds form in the lower stratosphere, between 15 and 25 km in altitude.

In the usually dry stratosphere, temperatures dropping below -80°C can cause sparse water molecules to form small ice crystals that eventually gather to create a cloud. These tiny ice crystals scatter sunlight, producing a dazzling rainbow effect and a pearlescent appearance.

Due to their high altitudes, the curvature of the Earth allows sunlight from below the horizon to hit and reflect off the underside of these clouds, illuminating them at dawn and dusk.

Rainbow clouds formed from pure water crystals are the thickest and most vivid, while those formed from air pollutants like nitric acid can result in thin, less impressive clouds. The latter type of cloud is associated with the degradation of the Antarctic ozone layer.

To witness rainbow clouds, consider visiting Antarctica during winter or look up at the sky around sunrise or sunset in parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, or even Scotland. These breathtaking phenomena are a result of unique atmospheric conditions.

This article addresses the question posed by Ollie Peterson via email: “What causes rainbow clouds?”

If you have any inquiries, please contact us at: questions@sciencefocus.comor reach out to us on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram (please include your name and location).

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Researchers map clouds on Mars

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The image is Mars Cloud Map Captured High resolution stereo camera (HRSC) Equipment On ESA's Mars probe “Mars Express”.

Leech waves on Mars are created when wind encounters an obstacle and builds up on the “leeward” or leeward side. Image courtesy of ESA / DLR / FU Berlin.

Mars Express's elliptical orbit allows the HRSC camera to observe the surface from a low altitude to map the planet at the highest possible resolution, but also to capture observations at a lower resolution from a higher altitude, covering a much larger portion of the surface in a typical edge-to-edge field of view.

These high altitude observations are ideal for observing Martian atmospheric phenomena.

More than 20 years have passed since the launch of the Mars Express mission, and a vast amount of image data on Martian atmospheric phenomena has been accumulated, which has great potential for scientific applications.

“Martian clouds are as diverse and fascinating as those seen in Earth's skies, but they also have some features that are unique to the Red Planet,” said Dr Daniela Tyrsch, researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

“One of my favorite phenomena is the beautiful 'cloud street' – a linear line of fleecy clouds that form around the rise of the giant volcano Tharsis Mons and the lowlands of the Northern Hemisphere during the Northern Hemisphere spring and summer.”

“They are similar to cumulus clouds on Earth, but form under different atmospheric conditions.”

“Impressive dust clouds stretching hundreds of kilometres have also been observed, a phenomenon that is fortunately not experienced on Earth.”

Dust plays a major role in the Martian atmosphere and climate.

Rare upwelling events can cause beige, dusty clumps to drift through the planet's atmosphere.

Large differences in temperature and air pressure during certain seasons can create stronger than normal winds and kick up large amounts of dust from the Martian surface.

The dust cloud rising from the summit of the giant volcano resembles an eruptive cloud, even though it is no longer active.

Large, swirling dust storms and cyclones are also observed near the Martian north pole every year.

Studying these phenomena is crucial for scientists to understand the Martian atmosphere and air mass circulation.

Rolling “gravity clouds” are one of the most common formations on both Mars and Earth.

They are found in the mid-latitudes of both hemispheres in winter, as well as over the Tharsis volcanic plateau in the Southern Hemisphere winter.

Lee waves are a special type of gravity cloud that can accumulate on the lee side of ridges, mountains, and other obstacles, forming repeating ridges.

Some of the cloud types studied are specific to certain locations and seasons, but there are also clouds such as “crepuscular clouds” that appear in the early morning at any time and any place throughout the year.

The new atlas provides valuable insight into the physics of clouds and storms, their appearance, and when and where they form.

This knowledge will not only help us better understand the dynamics of Mars' atmosphere and climate cycles, but will also be useful in studying the climates of other planets, such as Earth and Venus.

“ESA has extended the Mars Express mission until at least 2026, which will allow us to continue to enrich the database and further our understanding of the Martian atmosphere,” Dr Tilsch said.

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Daniella Tirsch others2024. Clouds and storms captured by HRSC – a catalog of Martian atmospheric phenomena. EPSC Abstract 17, EPSC2024-44; doi: 10.5194/epsc2024-44

Source: www.sci.news

The solution to the mysterious link between clouds and climate

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Eric S. Neitzel Fireground Communications LLC/AdobeStock

Central Park Reservoir is one of the few places in New York City to get a good view of the clouds. Looking north from the reservoir’s edge, there’s a large gap between the buildings that lets you see the clouds rolling in from the harbor. Meteorologist Kara Lamb suggested we try our hand at cloud watching here.

At the time, the sky is full of fluffy cumulus clouds beneath a ceiling of altostratus. One of them looks a lot like a whale. But Lam, who studies clouds at Columbia University in New York, doesn’t think they’re so strange. “Clouds are fascinating because they’re cool to look at,” he says. “But I think about clouds in terms of climate” – understanding how the sunlight they reflect and the heat they trap beneath them affect the Earth’s temperature.

What the casual cloud watcher might not know is that clouds are the biggest unknown in predicting future climate change to determine how this balance will change in a warming world. If we double carbon dioxide from pre-industrial levels, will the world get a manageable 1.5°C warming or a hellish 4.5°C warming? The biggest source of this uncertainty is our lack of understanding of clouds.

But researchers are making progress. Lamb is looking at ice crystals in the clouds, which play a surprisingly large role in influencing the climate. Some researchers are using cloud chambers, and are planning to set up cloud chambers…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astrophysicists find denser molecular clouds do not increase efficiency of star formation.

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Despite recent progress, the question of what controls the star formation efficiency in galaxies remains one of the most debated in astrophysics. According to the dominant view, star formation is controlled by turbulence and feedback, with a star formation efficiency of 1-2% per local free-fall time. In an alternative scenario, the star formation rate in the Galactic disk is proportional to the mass of dense gas above a critical density threshold. In a new study, astrophysicists from Université Paris-Sacra show that Michael Mattern and his colleagues aimed to distinguish between the two images with high-resolution observations. Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) tracks dense gas and young stars in a comprehensive sample of 49 nearby dense molecular clouds.

This composite image shows RCW 106, a star-forming region in the southern constellation Norma, about 12,000 light-years from Earth. The image overlays a red map of dense gas taken by APEX’s ArTéMiS camera on top of an optical image taken by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope. Image credit: ESO / M. Mattern others.

Understanding what controls the efficiency of star formation in galactic giant molecular clouds is a fundamental unsolved problem in star formation research.

The star formation rate at multiple scales in galaxies is known to be strongly correlated with the mass of available molecular gas.

Overall, star formation is observed to be a very inefficient process.

“The glowing red clouds seen in the image above indicate regions of dense gas where new stars are being born in the RCW 106 region,” the astronomers said in a statement.

“But only 1 percent of this gas actually forms stars, and we don’t know why this percentage is so low.”

“We know that star formation occurs when regions of these giant clouds of cold gas come together and eventually collapse, and new stars are born. This happens at a critical density.”

“But beyond that density, could even more stars be formed in even denser regions? And could this help explain the 1% mystery?”

Their new results suggest that this is not the case: the dense regions are not efficient for star formation.

According to the team, this can probably be explained by these dense clouds breaking up into filaments and nuclei from which stars form, but many questions remain.

“Our results suggest that the star formation efficiency does not increase as the density passes a critical threshold, supporting a scenario in which the star formation efficiency in dense gas is nearly constant,” the researchers said.

“However, measurements of star formation efficiency tracked by young class I stars in nearby clouds are inconclusive, as they are consistent with both the existence of a density threshold and its dependence on density above the threshold.”

“Overall, we suggest that the efficiency of star formation in dense gas is determined primarily by the physics of filament fragmentation into protostellar cores.”

of study will be displayed in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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M. Mattern others2024. Understanding star formation efficiency in dense gas: Initial results from the ArTéMiS CAFFEINE survey. A&Ain press; arXiv: 2405.15713

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Suggests That Venus’ Clouds Could Potentially Support Life

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Planetary scientists have long speculated that Venus' potential habitability lies not in its hot surface but in a cloud layer at an altitude of 48 to 60 kilometers, where temperatures match those of Earth's surface. However, it is commonly believed that Venusian clouds cannot support life because their chemical composition is concentrated sulfuric acid, a highly aggressive solvent. In the new study, chemists studied 20 biogenic amino acids across a range of sulfuric acid concentrations and temperatures in the Venus cloud. After four weeks, the researchers found that 19 of the biogenic amino acids tested were either unreactive or chemically modified only in their side chains. Their main discovery is that the amino acid backbone remains intact in concentrated sulfuric acid.

This composite image taken by JAXA's Akatsuki spacecraft shows Venus. Image credit: JAXA / ISAS / DARTS / Damia Bouic.

“What is quite surprising is that concentrated sulfuric acid is not a universally hostile solvent for organic chemistry,” said MIT researcher Dr. Janusz Petkowski.

“We found that the building blocks of life on Earth are stable in sulfuric acid, which is very interesting as we consider the possibility of life on Venus,” said Sarah Seager of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. the professor added.

“That doesn't mean life there will be the same as it is here. In fact, we know it's unlikely. But this study suggests that Venus' clouds support the complex chemicals necessary for life. We advance the idea that there is a possibility that

The search for life in Venus' clouds has gained momentum in recent years, spurred by the detection of the controversial molecule phosphine, a molecule thought to be a signature of life, in the planet's atmosphere. There is.

Although the discovery remains debated, the news reignited old questions about whether life could actually exist on Earth's sister planet.

In search of answers, scientists are planning several missions to Venus. That includes the first largely privately-funded mission to Venus, backed by California-based launch company Rocket Lab.

The mission, for which Professor Seeger is the principal scientist, aims to send a spacecraft into the planet's clouds and analyze their chemistry for signs of organic molecules.

Ahead of the mission's launch in January 2025, Professor Seager and his colleagues will test various materials in concentrated sulfuric acid to find out whether debris from life on Earth might be stable in Venus' clouds. I've been testing molecules. The most acidic place on earth.

“People have a perception that concentrated sulfuric acid is a very aggressive solvent that will tear everything apart, but we are finding that this is not necessarily true,” Dr. Petkowski said.

In fact, the authors have previously shown that complex organic molecules, such as some fatty acids and nucleic acids, are surprisingly stable in sulfuric acid.

They are careful to emphasize, as they do in the current paper, that complex organic chemistry is of course not life, but without organic chemistry there is no life.

In other words, if certain molecules can survive in sulfuric acid, Venus' highly acidic clouds are probably habitable, if not necessarily habitable.

In the new study, researchers focused on 20 biogenic amino acids, amino acids that are essential for all life on Earth.

They dissolved each type of amino acid in a vial of sulfuric acid mixed with water at concentrations of 81% and 98%, representing the range found in Venus' clouds.

They then used a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to analyze the structure of the amino acids in sulfuric acid.

After analyzing each vial several times over a four-week period, they found that the basic molecular structure, or “skeleton,” of 19 of the 20 amino acids was stable and unaltered, even under highly acidic conditions.

“Just because this skeleton was shown to be stable in sulfuric acid does not mean there is life on Venus,” said Dr. Maxwell Seager, a researcher at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

“But if we had shown that this spine was compromised, there would have been no possibility of life as we know it.”

of study Published in this week's magazine astrobiology.

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Maxwell D. Seeger other. Stability of 20 biogenic amino acids in concentrated sulfuric acid: Implications for the habitability of Venusian clouds. astrobiology, published online March 18, 2024. doi: 10.1089/ast.2023.0082

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers find hundreds of massive gas clouds streaming away from the Milky Way’s center

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Using new 21 cm radio observations made with NSF's Green Bank Telescope, astronomers have discovered that more than 250 clouds of neutral gas are blasting out into interstellar space from the center of the Milky Way. These clouds are likely the product of the same phenomenon that created the Fermi bubble.

The artist's concept is that clouds flowing from the center of the Milky Way are caught up in extremely hot winds and accelerated to speeds of hundreds of kilometers per second. Image credit: NSF/GBO/P. Vosteen.

It has long been known that energetic processes at the center of the Milky Way generate high-velocity hot winds that spread through intergalactic space with temperatures of millions of degrees and speeds of thousands of kilometers per second. Most large galaxies have winds like this.

The serendipitous discovery that some of this hot gas is trapped in cold hydrogen clouds was made by Australia's ATCA telescope, which measured 21cm radio emissions from interstellar hydrogen atoms.

This suggests that there may be an undiscovered population of clouds transporting material away from the Milky Way's core.

Hydrogen clouds are important in their own right, but they also act as probes for hot air.

Conditions in very hot winds are difficult to measure, but just as a few leaves thrown up on Earth indicate the direction and speed of the wind in the area, cold clouds can You can track its status.

The sensitivity of the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) makes it an ideal instrument for detecting faint signals from interstellar hydrogen, but mapping these clouds and understanding their true extent is essential. It wasn't easy.

Dr Felix James 'Jay' Rockman, senior astronomer at Green Bank Observatory, said: 'It took many years to systematically map hundreds of square degrees using GBT in search of weak hydrogen emissions. ” he said.

“Once we identify a few promising candidates, we can follow up with targeted observations with other telescopes to show us even more.”

“This cloud must have been ripped off from a region near the center of the Milky Way galaxy and flung outward by a burst of star formation or black hole activity.”

Some of these clouds have the fastest outflow velocities of any cloud ever observed in the Milky Way, and may even escape from the Milky Way.

In an unexpected development, new data from the APEX telescope reveals that some hydrogen clouds contain molecules and dense cold gas.

“No one would have expected that the clouds violently ejected from the Milky Way would harbor relatively fragile molecular material, but that's what happened,” Rockman said.

Astronomers using the MeerKAT array recently mapped hydrogen in several clouds with high angular resolution, showing that it evolves and gets shredded as it flows into interstellar space.

“These new results open the door to further discoveries,” Dr. Rockman said.

“How clouds that are accelerated to speeds of more than 400 kilometers per second remain stable is a mystery.”

“The chemical processes inside these clouds are very unusual and unexplored.”

Dr. Rockman and his colleague Dr. Enrico Di Teodoro of the University of Florence, findings in AAS243243rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

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Felix Rockman and Enrico di Teodoro. 2024. New investigation of neutral clouds in the Milky Way's core wind. AAS243Abstract #2851

Source: www.sci.news

The enigmatic ultraviolet absorber found in Venus’ clouds may be clarified by the mixture of two minerals.

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Venus’ clouds are thought to be composed of trace elements such as sulfuric acid and iron-containing compounds. The concentration of each of these compounds varies with height in the thick atmosphere of our neighboring planet. In a new study, researchers at the University of Cambridge have synthesized an iron-bearing sulfate mineral that is stable under the harsh chemical conditions of Venus’ clouds. Their spectroscopic analysis revealed that a combination of his two minerals, rhinoclase and acidic ferric sulfate, could explain the mysterious ultraviolet (UV) absorption features in Venus’ atmosphere.

Jean other. They hypothesize that there is an abundant, poorly understood, heterogeneous chemistry within Venusian cloud droplets that significantly influences cloud optical properties and the behavior of trace gas species throughout Venus’ atmosphere. I am. Image credit: Matthias Malmar / NASA.

There are several mysteries surrounding Venus’ clouds. They extend from 48 km to about 65 km and are located in the lower atmosphere (<48 km) と、光化学と力学が関係する上層大気 (>65 km).

In order to understand the chemical cycles between the Venusian atmosphere and its volcanic surfaces and to accurately interpret potential biosignatures, increasing research efforts are being focused on generating complete modeling frameworks for the Venusian atmosphere.

Dr Paul Rimmer, a researcher at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, said: “The only data available on cloud composition has been collected by spacecraft, which reveals some strange aspects of clouds that have so far not been fully explained.'' “We have clarified the nature of this.'' .

“In particular, when examined under ultraviolet light, Venus’ clouds showed a specific pattern of ultraviolet absorption.”

“What elements, compounds, and minerals are involved in such observations?”

Rimmer and his colleagues synthesized several iron-bearing sulfate minerals in their aqueous geochemistry laboratory based on Venus’ atmospheric chemistry.

By suspending the synthesized material in various concentrations of sulfuric acid and monitoring chemical and mineralogical changes, we narrowed down the candidate minerals to rhinoclase and acidic ferric sulfate, and characterized their spectroscopic characteristics in a manner similar to that of the sun. examined under a light source specifically designed to mimic the spectrum. flare.

In an attempt to mimic even more extreme Venusian clouds, the authors measured the UV absorbance pattern of ferric sulfate under extremely acidic conditions.

“The pattern and level of absorption exhibited by the combination of these two mineral phases is consistent with the dark UV patches observed in the clouds of Venus,” said researcher Dr. Clancy Jijiang Jiang from the University of Cambridge.

“These targeted experiments reveal a complex chemical network in the atmosphere and shed light on elemental cycling on Venus’ surface.”

“Venus is our closest neighbor, but it remains mysterious,” Dr. Rimmer says.

“Future NASA and ESA missions will explore its atmosphere, clouds, and surface, giving us the opportunity to learn more about this planet in the coming years.”

“This study sets the stage for future exploration.”

team’s paper appear in the diary scientific progress.

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Clancy Jean Jean other. 2024. Iron and sulfur chemistry can explain ultraviolet absorbers in Venus’ clouds. Scientific Advances 10 (1); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8826

Source: www.sci.news