Tardigrades in Space Research - Past and Future SUMMARY: This is a review of the research articles and experiments on tardigrades in space. It's an easy read and best used as an introduction to other articles on the specific experiments conducted by NASA. In the first few sections, the authors explain what tardigrades are, their… Continue reading Tardigrades in Space Research – Past and Future
Tag: space conditions
Beaming Benzene and Naphthalene
N- and O-Heterocycles Produced from the Irradiation of Benzene and Naphthalene in H2O/NH3-Containing Ices SUMMARY: While pyrimidines have been found on space rocks (carbonaceous chondrites), researchers wanted to see if they can produce different types of heterocyclic molecules in the lab by beaming benzene and naphthalene (both are cyclic organic compounds that can open, substitute… Continue reading Beaming Benzene and Naphthalene
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 4
The Photochemistry of Pyrimidine in Realistic Astrophysical Ices and the Production of Nucleobases SUMMARY: To mimic the conditions on comets or space clouds, the gas mixture beamed in this experiment was a mixture of: water, methanol, ammonia, methane, and pyrazine. Pyrazine is an isomer of pyrimidine (both have the chemical formula C4H4N2). This gas mixture… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 4
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 3
Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Pure H2O Ice with High-Energy Ultraviolet Photons SUMMARY: In Part 3 of pyrimidine beaming, researchers looked at different energy levels of photons and their effect on pyrimidines. They beamed a water and pyrimidine ice mixture with photons of three different wavelengths. Uracil and the molecule that is the precursor to uracil… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 3
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 2
Thymine and Other Prebiotic Molecules Produced from the Ultraviolet Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Simple Astrophysical Ice Analogs(NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: In the second edition of beaming pyrimidines, instead of using ammonia, scientists beamed pyrimidines with methanol, water and methanol, methane, and water and methane. As with “Beaming Pyrimidines Part 1”, the gases were cooled way… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 2
Beaming Simulated Space Ice
Enantiomeric separation of complex organic molecules produced from irradiation of interstellar/circumstellar ice analogs(NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: To simulate conditions in space and in asteroids and meteorites, scientists put simple gases (water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and methanol) into a low temperature and low pressure chamber. Then, using UV light, they irradiated these gases (which at the… Continue reading Beaming Simulated Space Ice