Chemistry
Could We Detect an Alien Civilization Trying to Warm Their Planet?
Humanity is facing an atmospheric threat of our own device, and our internecine squabbles are hampering our ability to neutralize…
Life Probably Played No Role in Mars’ Organic Matter
The Martian surface shows ample evidence of its warm, watery past. Deltas, ancient lakebeds, and dry river channels are plentiful.…
Linking Organic Molecules to Hydrothermal Vents on Enceladus
Despite the vast distance between us and Saturn's gleaming moon Enceladus, the icy ocean moon is a prime target in…
New Answers for Mars’ Methane Mystery
Planetary scientists perk up whenever methane is mentioned. Methane is produced by living things on Earth, so it's considered to…
41,000 Years Ago Earth’s Shield Went Down
Earth is naked without its protective barrier. The planet's magnetic shield surrounds Earth and shelters it from the natural onslaught…
Binary Stars Form in the Same Nebula But Aren’t Identical. Now We Know Why.
It stands to reason that stars formed from the same cloud of material will have the same metallicity. That fact…
Another New Molecule Discovered Forming in Space
The list of chemicals found in space is growing longer and longer. Astronomers have found amino acids and other building…
Organic Chemistry: Why study it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth?
Universe Today has recently had the privilege of investigating a myriad of scientific disciplines, including impact craters, planetary surfaces, exoplanets, astrobiology, solar physics, comets, planetary atmospheres, planetary geophysics, cosmochemistry, meteorites,…
Could Life Exist in Water Droplet Worlds in Venus’ Atmosphere?
It's a measure of human ingenuity and curiosity that scientists debate the possibility of life on Venus. They established long…
Measuring the Atmospheres of Other Worlds to See if There are Enough Nutrients for Life
Life on Earth depends on six critical elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur. These elements are referred to…