Life-Forming Chemicals Found in Distant Galaxy

collarian · 17-01-08, 16:59

Radio astronomers collecting data from a galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth recently stumbled upon something intriguing: building blocks for life.

The astronomers were testing a new, highly sensitive science instrument at the Arecibo Observatory and set their sights on a distant galaxy that seldom disappoints: the ultra-luminous, dual-core Arp 220, a veritable factory for star production.

Arp 220 is so thick with stars that astronomers estimate supernovas, the suicidal explosions of young massive stars, are happening four times a year, as compared to our own relatively quiescent Milky Way galaxy, with a supernova about every half-century or so.

So it was with an open mind and no set agenda that astronomers collected data for about 30 hours last April using a device that analyzes multiple frequencies simultaneously. The instrument can detect chemicals that incoming radio waves have passed through before reaching the telescope's collecting dish.

What they found, however, was totally unexpected: methanimide and hydrogen cyanide.

The discovery, which was unveiled at the American Astronomical Society conference in Austin, Texas, last week, is significant because methanimine and hydrogen cyanide are building blocks for amino acids, the foundation of life.

"Methanimine has barely been seen in our own galaxy," Arecibo astronomer Christopher Salter told Discovery News. "Nobody had looked for it in deep space."

Typically, astronomers use their precious telescope time to search for specific molecules or atoms. The new wide-band spectrometer at Arecibo can digest 800 megahertz chunks of data at a time.

Salter and his colleagues didn't even realize what they had found until they looked up what chemicals matched the distinctive patterns found in their data.

"We found we had discovered methanimine," Salter said.

Scientists are now combing through their data to see if they can detect the simplest amino acid, glycine, which forms when methanimine and hydrogen cyanide are combined with water.

"The fact that we can observe these substances at such a vast distance means that there are huge amounts of them in Arp 220," said Emmanuel Momjian, a former Arecibo astronomer, now at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, N.M.

"It is very intriguing to find that the ingredients of life appear in large quantities where new stars and planets are born."

iranmp3 · 17-01-08, 17:06

i neve heard methanimine, but i heard methanamide

collarian · 17-01-08, 17:08

	Quote: Originally Posted by iranmp3
	i neve heard methanimine, but i heard methanamide

edited, thanks!

iranmp3 · 17-01-08, 17:12

	Quote: Originally Posted by collarian
	edited, thanks!

hala be harfe man estenad nakon

, ziad shimim khoob nist

collarian · 17-01-08, 17:13

	Quote: Originally Posted by iranmp3
	hala be harfe man estenad nakon, ziad shimim khoob nist

Manam shimi halim nist vali ino dororst gofti

miladoooo · 17-01-08, 17:15

ye tarjome farsi ham zamimash konid mamnon misham

collarian · 17-01-08, 17:16

	Quote: Originally Posted by miladoooo
	ye tarjome farsi ham zamimash konid mamnon misham

Age sabr koni Orkide 2-3 rooz dige farsisho mizare

persia persia · 17-01-08, 17:17

	Quote: Originally Posted by iranmp3
	i neve heard methanimine, but i heard methanamide

bebakhshid aghaye bahram radan man ye soal dashtam ahyanan oon kalame ke dar signature shoma hast " dousn't " manie khasi midee?
chon man kheili too loghat name ha gashtam chizi peida nakardam

miladoooo · 17-01-08, 17:18

	Quote: Originally Posted by collarian
	Age sabr koni Orkide 2-3 rooz dige farsisho mizare

sabr mikonim

mahtab_persia · 17-01-08, 17:33

	Quote: Originally Posted by persia persia
	bebakhshid aghaye bahram radan man ye soal dashtam ahyanan oon kalame ke dar signature shoma hast " dousn't " manie khasi midee? chon man kheili too loghat name ha gashtam chizi peida nakardam

17-01-08, 16:59	#1 (permalink)
collarian Neptune Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mars Posts: 6,867 Credits: 7,720 Thanks: 1,809 Thanked 2,516 Times in 981 Posts	Life-Forming Chemicals Found in Distant Galaxy Radio astronomers collecting data from a galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth recently stumbled upon something intriguing: building blocks for life. The astronomers were testing a new, highly sensitive science instrument at the Arecibo Observatory and set their sights on a distant galaxy that seldom disappoints: the ultra-luminous, dual-core Arp 220, a veritable factory for star production. Arp 220 is so thick with stars that astronomers estimate supernovas, the suicidal explosions of young massive stars, are happening four times a year, as compared to our own relatively quiescent Milky Way galaxy, with a supernova about every half-century or so. So it was with an open mind and no set agenda that astronomers collected data for about 30 hours last April using a device that analyzes multiple frequencies simultaneously. The instrument can detect chemicals that incoming radio waves have passed through before reaching the telescope's collecting dish. What they found, however, was totally unexpected: methanimide and hydrogen cyanide. The discovery, which was unveiled at the American Astronomical Society conference in Austin, Texas, last week, is significant because methanimine and hydrogen cyanide are building blocks for amino acids, the foundation of life. "Methanimine has barely been seen in our own galaxy," Arecibo astronomer Christopher Salter told Discovery News. "Nobody had looked for it in deep space." Typically, astronomers use their precious telescope time to search for specific molecules or atoms. The new wide-band spectrometer at Arecibo can digest 800 megahertz chunks of data at a time. Salter and his colleagues didn't even realize what they had found until they looked up what chemicals matched the distinctive patterns found in their data. "We found we had discovered methanimine," Salter said. Scientists are now combing through their data to see if they can detect the simplest amino acid, glycine, which forms when methanimine and hydrogen cyanide are combined with water. "The fact that we can observe these substances at such a vast distance means that there are huge amounts of them in Arp 220," said Emmanuel Momjian, a former Arecibo astronomer, now at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, N.M. "It is very intriguing to find that the ingredients of life appear in large quantities where new stars and planets are born." __________________ Last edited by collarian; 17-01-08 at 17:08.

17-01-08, 17:15	#6 (permalink)
miladoooo Venus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 18,411 Credits: 25,257 Thanks: 5,393 Thanked 1,008 Times in 820 Posts	ye tarjome farsi ham zamimash konid mamnon misham __________________ Ey Dost Dar Rozeye Ghalb Joz Gole Eshgh Makar

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17-01-08, 17:06	#2 (permalink)
iranmp3 Jupiter Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 5,146 Credits: 23,977 Thanks: 980 Thanked 2,657 Times in 1,017 Posts	i neve heard methanimine, but i heard methanamide