The space between stars is not empty, but contains an abundance of diffuse material, about 5-10% of the total mass of our galaxy (excluding dark matter). Most of the material is gas, predominantly hydrogen, but with a small ...
Astronomy
Jan 11, 2016
3
78
Astronomers have long held that water—two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom—was a relative latecomer to the universe. They believed that any element heavier than helium had to have been formed in the cores of stars and ...
Astronomy
May 13, 2015
4
178
How soon after the Big Bang could water have existed? Not right away, because water molecules contain oxygen and oxygen had to be formed in the first stars. Then that oxygen had to disperse and unite with hydrogen in significant ...
Astronomy
Apr 28, 2015
9
482
When water molecules evaporate from a liquid phase into a gaseous phase, they alter their aggregate state. The mathematical description of such a phase transition harbours pitfalls as nucleation is needed for the change to ...
General Physics
Mar 24, 2015
0
14
Ubiquitous carbon-rich aerosol particles created by emissions from cars, trees, and other sources alter our climate and affect air quality. Until recently, the properties of these aerosols were hard to experimentally characterize, ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 12, 2015
13
39
Laboratory chamber walls have been stealing vapors, causing researchers to underestimate the formation of secondary organic aerosol in the atmosphere.
Earth Sciences
Apr 7, 2014
0
0
Helsinki/Jülich/Leipzig. Scientists made an important step in order to better understand the relationships between vegetation and climate. So-called extremely low-volatility organic compounds, which are produced by plants, ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 26, 2014
0
1
Without using a solvent, catalyst, or promoter, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Colorado State University transformed a common molecule that abhors electrons into one with a strong affinity ...
Materials Science
Feb 26, 2014
1
5
Just like gloves, molecules come in so-called left-handed and right-handed versions. Until now, however, it could be determined only with great difficulty whether a certain molecule is right-handed or left-handed. In medicine, ...
Materials Science
Sep 13, 2013
1
0
New research has revealed that chemical reactions previously thought to be 'impossible' in space actually occur 'with vigour,' a discovery that could ultimately change our understanding of how alcohols are formed and destroyed ...
Astronomy
Sep 10, 2013
3
0
