The Sky Tonight

June 16, 2016

Life's origins may result from low-energy electron reactions in space
Wellesley MA (SPX) Jun 16, 2016
Wellesley College professor Chris Arumainayagam has opened the American Astronomical Society (AAS) national conference in San Diego, Calif with a discussion about how the earliest building blocks of life may have been produced when low-energy ( 20 eV) electrons interact with cosmic (interstellar, planetary, and cometary) ices. His recently published results suggest that low-energy, electron-induced condensed phase reactions may contribute to the interstellar synthesis of prebiotic molecules previ ... read more

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Small Asteroid Is Earth's Constant Companion A small asteroid has been discovered in an orbit around the sun that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth, and it will remain so for centuries to come. As it orbits the sun, this new aste ... more		Clouds, haze cause astronomers to overestimate size of exoplanets New research suggests the size of exoplanets may be routinely overestimated, and clouds, scientists say, are to blame. ... more		UChicago physicists first to see behavior of quantum materials in curved space Light and matter are typically viewed as distinct entities that follow their own, unique rules. Matter has mass and typically exhibits interactions with other matter, while light is massless and doe ... more
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Wasteful galaxies launch heavy elements into surrounding halos and deep space

The mystery of the initial mass function solved

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