www.csua.org/u/xjv -> news.yahoo.com/space-sugar-discovered-around-sun-star-130501414.html
This image shows the Rho Ophiuchi star-forming region in infrared light, as seen by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE). IRAS 16293-2422 is the red object in the center of the small square. Calada & NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team - This image shows the Rho Ophiuchi star-forming region in infrared light, as seen by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE).
This artist's impression of glycolaldehyde molecules shows their molecular structure (C2H4O2). Carbon atoms are shown as gray, oxygen atoms as red, and hydrogen atoms as white. Enlarge Photo This artist's impression of glycolaldehyde ... Sugar molecules have been found in the gas surrounding a young sun-like star, suggesting that some of the building blocks of life may actually be present even as alien planets are still forming in the system. The young star, called IRAS 16293-2422, is part of a binary (or two-star) system. It has a similar mass to the sun and is located about 400 light-years away in the constellation of Ophiuchus.
previously been detected in interstellar space, but according to the researchers, this is the first time they have been spotted so close to a sun-like star. In fact, the molecules are about the same distance away from the star as the planet Uranus is from our sun.
Stunning earth features seen from space "In the disk of gas and dust surrounding this newly formed star, we found glycolaldehyde, which is a simple form of sugar, not much different to the sugar we put in coffee," study lead author Jes Jrgensen, of the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark, said in a statement.
ingredients in the formation of RNA, which -- like DNA, to which it is related -- is one of the building blocks of life." Glycolaldehyde can react with a substance called propenal to form ribose, which is a major component of RNA, or ribonucleic acid.
Astronomers found the sugar molecules using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile. Using ALMA, the astronomers monitored the sugar molecules and found that they are falling toward one of the stars in the binary system, explained study researcher Ccile Favre, of Aarhus University in Denmark.
Dazzling distant planets When new stars are formed, the clouds of dust and gas from which they are born are extremely cold. Much of the gas turns into ice on the dust particles, bonding together and becoming complex molecules, the researchers said. As the newborn star develops, it heats up the inner parts of the rotating cloud of gas and dust, warming it to about room temperature, the scientists explained. This heating process evaporates the chemically complex molecules and forms gases that emit radiation that can be picked up by sensitive radio telescopes. "A big question is: how complex can these molecules become before they are incorporated into new planets?"
how life might arise elsewhere, and ALMA observations are going to be vital to unravel this mystery." Since IRAS 16293-2422 is located relatively close to Earth, scientists will be able to study the molecular and chemical makeup of the gas and dust around the young star. Powerful instruments, including ALMA, will also help researchers see the interactions of these molecules as new alien planets form. The detailed results of the study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
If we do find life, the information telling us there is life will be 100's of 1000's of years old, if not billions. They could have become sentient and created soda drink bans then perished for all we know.
Isaac's remnants bring rain to drought-hit Midwest (Reuters) - The remnants of Hurricane Isaac brought rain to drought-stricken parts of the lower US Midwest on Saturday after the storm killed at least 30 people on its trek across the Caribbean and Louisiana and Mississippi, authorities said. Rainfall totals of no more than 3 inches were expected through the lower Ohio River Valley by Saturday night after Isaac lost much of its punch while passing over Missouri. Top sustained winds had dropped to 20 miles per hour and flash flood threats were diminishing, the National Weather Service said.
Motor racing-Hamilton gets in a tangle on and off track SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Sept 1 (Reuters) - LewisHamilton chose the wrong wing for his McLaren at the BelgianFormula One Grand Prix on Saturday and then got into more of aflap trying to explain himself on Twitter. The 2008 world champion qualified seventh, with team mateJenson Button on pole position, after opting to run an olderspecification rear wing on his car instead of the latest one hisfellow Briton went with.
Eland Oil to list after buying Nigeria block ABUJA (Reuters) - West Africa-focused energy firm Eland Oil and Gas will float on London's junior stock market on Monday with a market value of 135 million pounds after completing the purchase of a stake in a Nigerian oil block, it told Reuters on Saturday. Eland Oil Chief Executive Les Blair said the company, in partnership with Nigerian oil firm Starcrest, bought a 45 percent stake in block OML 40 owned jointly by Shell, Total and Eni for $154 million.
Bayern smash ten-man Stuttgart to top Bundesliga Bayern Munich floored ten-man VfB Stuttgart 6-1 on Sunday, with Germany's Thomas Mueller scoring twice, to finish the second weekend of the Bundesliga season at the top of the table.
Paralympics-Swimmer with violent past wins second London silver LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Spanish Paralympic swimmerSebastian Rodriguez was sentenced to 84 years in jail in 1985for his part in the left-wing militant murder of a businessman,but on Saturday won his second silver medal of the London Gamesin the 200 metres freestyle. Rodriguez was a member of an ultra left-wing group Grapobehind the murder of Rafael Padura, a Spanish business leader. His journey from convict to Paralympian began when heembarked on an extended hunger strike while in jail thatresulted in him losing the use of his legs.
|
http://csua.com/feed/