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Optical Detection of Anomalous Nitrogen in Comets
In message , Ron Baalke
writes http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-re.../pr-25-03.html ESO Press Release 25/03 12 September 2003 For immediate release Optical Detection of Anomalous Nitrogen in Comets VLT Opens New Window towards Our Origins Huge snip Macromolecules in space The astronomers think that the new results indicate that the HCN-molecule cannot be the only "parent" of the CN-molecule; the latter must also be produced by some as yet unknown parent(s) in which the nitrogen-15 isotope is even more abundant. In this connection, it is very interesting that an "excess" of nitrogen-15 is also known to exist in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), captured by high-flying aircraft in the Earth's atmosphere. They represent the oldest material in the solar system that can be subjected to detailed laboratory analysis. Many of these particles are thought to originate from passing comets - this possibility is obviously supported by the new measurements. The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. -- "Forty millions of miles it was from us, more than forty millions of miles of void" |
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Jonathan Silverlight wrote in message ...
In message , Ron Baalke writes http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-re.../pr-25-03.html ESO Press Release 25/03 12 September 2003 For immediate release Optical Detection of Anomalous Nitrogen in Comets VLT Opens New Window towards Our Origins Huge snip Macromolecules in space The astronomers think that the new results indicate that the HCN-molecule cannot be the only "parent" of the CN-molecule; the latter must also be produced by some as yet unknown parent(s) in which the nitrogen-15 isotope is even more abundant. In this connection, it is very interesting that an "excess" of nitrogen-15 is also known to exist in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), captured by high-flying aircraft in the Earth's atmosphere. They represent the oldest material in the solar system that can be subjected to detailed laboratory analysis. Many of these particles are thought to originate from passing comets - this possibility is obviously supported by the new measurements. The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. Good point. Also, life is known to be a primary cause of highly variable isotope fractionation. Bob Clark |
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Jonathan Silverlight wrote in message ...
In message , Ron Baalke writes http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-re.../pr-25-03.html ESO Press Release 25/03 12 September 2003 For immediate release Optical Detection of Anomalous Nitrogen in Comets VLT Opens New Window towards Our Origins Huge snip Macromolecules in space The astronomers think that the new results indicate that the HCN-molecule cannot be the only "parent" of the CN-molecule; the latter must also be produced by some as yet unknown parent(s) in which the nitrogen-15 isotope is even more abundant. In this connection, it is very interesting that an "excess" of nitrogen-15 is also known to exist in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), captured by high-flying aircraft in the Earth's atmosphere. They represent the oldest material in the solar system that can be subjected to detailed laboratory analysis. Many of these particles are thought to originate from passing comets - this possibility is obviously supported by the new measurements. The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. Good point. Also, life is known to be a primary cause of highly variable isotope fractionation. Bob Clark |
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The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are
possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. In article , Jonathan Silverlight writes: I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. I don't see why. PAH's are widely accepted as dust constituents these days, and there is no indication they are biological. Quite the contrary, I should think. Their structure is multiple "benzene rings." (Visualize those small hexagonal bathroom tiles.) Are such structures known in biology? -- Steve Willner Phone 617-495-7123 Cambridge, MA 02138 USA (Please email your reply if you want to be sure I see it; include a valid Reply-To address to receive an acknowledgement. Commercial email may be sent to your ISP.) |
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The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are
possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. In article , Jonathan Silverlight writes: I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. I don't see why. PAH's are widely accepted as dust constituents these days, and there is no indication they are biological. Quite the contrary, I should think. Their structure is multiple "benzene rings." (Visualize those small hexagonal bathroom tiles.) Are such structures known in biology? -- Steve Willner Phone 617-495-7123 Cambridge, MA 02138 USA (Please email your reply if you want to be sure I see it; include a valid Reply-To address to receive an acknowledgement. Commercial email may be sent to your ISP.) |
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In message , Steve Willner
writes The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. In article , Jonathan Silverlight writes: I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. I don't see why. PAH's are widely accepted as dust constituents these days, and there is no indication they are biological. Quite the contrary, I should think. Their structure is multiple "benzene rings." (Visualize those small hexagonal bathroom tiles.) Are such structures known in biology? That was my point! Hoyle and Wickramasinghe claimed that the spectra they recorded were biogenic, rather than just organic, for instance. And the nitrogen-containing macromolecules _are_ suggestive of "interesting" molecules. But thinking about hexagonal tiles reminds me of something scary. Remember the structure of the Andromeda Strain? ;-) -- "Forty millions of miles it was from us, more than forty millions of miles of void" |
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In message , Steve Willner
writes The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. In article , Jonathan Silverlight writes: I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. I don't see why. PAH's are widely accepted as dust constituents these days, and there is no indication they are biological. Quite the contrary, I should think. Their structure is multiple "benzene rings." (Visualize those small hexagonal bathroom tiles.) Are such structures known in biology? That was my point! Hoyle and Wickramasinghe claimed that the spectra they recorded were biogenic, rather than just organic, for instance. And the nitrogen-containing macromolecules _are_ suggestive of "interesting" molecules. But thinking about hexagonal tiles reminds me of something scary. Remember the structure of the Andromeda Strain? ;-) -- "Forty millions of miles it was from us, more than forty millions of miles of void" |
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On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 23:53:38 +0100, Jonathan Silverlight
wrote: In message , Steve Willner writes The nitrogen-15 carriers in IDPs have not been securely identified but are possibly organic macromolecules or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is thus possible that the additional parent(s) of cometary CN may belong to this ensemble of organic substances. In article , Jonathan Silverlight writes: I can't help feeling that Chandra Wickramasinghe is going to like that observation. I don't see why. PAH's are widely accepted as dust constituents these days, and there is no indication they are biological. Quite the contrary, I should think. Their structure is multiple "benzene rings." (Visualize those small hexagonal bathroom tiles.) Are such structures known in biology? That was my point! Hoyle and Wickramasinghe claimed that the spectra they recorded were biogenic, rather than just organic, for instance. And the nitrogen-containing macromolecules _are_ suggestive of "interesting" molecules. well, they're interesting to the organic chemist, if nothing else from the perspective of how they formed. since organic chemists are known as pot boilers, how you can get complex organic compounds in a vacuum under all kinds of radiation is even more interesting... But thinking about hexagonal tiles reminds me of something scary. Remember the structure of the Andromeda Strain? ;-) hehe. it sure made for a good story. i saw it as a kid and was pretty creeped out. i look at it now and just chuckle.... i forget the ep, but McCoy says to Kirk: dammit, i'm a surgeon, not a bricklayer! |
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