Latest news with #cosmicrays
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Have Brewed a 'Super Alcohol' Theorized to Exist in Deep Space
By recreating extreme conditions found inside deep space interstellar clouds, scientists have produced methanetetrol, or C(OH)4 – a 'super alcohol' that was long theorized about but never actually seen before. This is not the kind of alcohol you can ask for in a cocktail: it's a highly unstable molecule made up of four hydroxyl groups (OH) at a single carbon atom. Its existence was first predicted more than a century ago. To finally prove that prediction correct, an international team of researchers created artificial space ice in a lab, freezing carbon dioxide and water down to ultra-cold temperatures in a vacuum. Related: By bombarding this ice with high-energy radiation blasts – intended to mimic the cosmic rays from stars and supernovae that zoom through space – it kicked off a chemical reaction that eventually led to methanetetrol. "The detection of methanetetrol in space-simulation experiments demonstrates that the interstellar medium is host to an unanticipated and counterintuitive chemistry that demands scientific attention," write the researchers in their published paper. It's a discovery that opens up a wealth of new possibilities about the chemical reactions that could be happening in deep space, including the freezing cold bundles of ice and dust that are interstellar clouds, lingering between stars. If methanetetrol can form, then what other 'impossible' molecules could be out there? And how might this influence the chemistry and physics of space that have already been outlined in previous research? In particular, the researchers think that their findings could be vital in the future study of other lifeforms out in the Universe, and how they might get started – not just through this molecule, but others it might lead us to. "This molecule's identification here represents a blind spot and the lack of its detection to date in the terrestrial environment is evidence of the counter-intuitive chemistry of the interstellar medium and justification for its promotion," write the researchers. One of the next steps worth taking is to see if we can spot methanetetrol out in its natural habitat of deep space – as it's far too unstable to exist on Earth. Thanks to this latest research, astronomers now have a better idea of what they're looking for. Detecting it isn't going to be easy though. Methanetetrol breaks apart very quickly when it's hit with light, a process known as dissociative photoionization, and the researchers were only able to catch a fleeting glimpse of it here. There's lots more to explore, and thanks to advances in scientific techniques and telescope imagery, we're continuing to get a better idea of what's beyond our own planet. Indeed, only last year some of the same researchers discovered another 'impossible' molecule, called methanetriol. It's increasingly clear that chemistry in space is not the same as chemistry on Earth. In fact, some estimates suggest we've only discovered around 1 percent of the chemicals out in space – but scientists are working hard on it. "This work pushes the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space," says chemist Ralf Kaiser, from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The research has been published in Nature Communications. Related News Earth Spun Faster Today. Here's How We Know. Dark Mirror of Our Own Universe Could Explain Quirks in Gravity Project Reveals Mindblowing Designs For Shipping Humans to The Stars Solve the daily Crossword
The National
2 days ago
- Science
- The National
NYU Abu Dhabi study uncovers how life can survive on Mars
Life may be able to survive beneath the surface of Mars and other planets because of energy generated by cosmic rays, researchers from the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have found. The new study, published in the International Journal of Astrobiology on July 28, suggests that future missions looking for microscopic life may need to dig deeper into the surface. Dr Dimitra Atri, principal investigator at NYUAD's Centre for Astrophysics and Space Science and lead author of the study, told The National that underground regions where cosmic radiation can trigger chemical reactions may be more promising, instead of surface environments warmed by sunlight. 'For decades, most of our ideas about where life might thrive beyond Earth have revolved around sunlight or heat from a planet's interior,' he said. 'But there are places in our solar system, like Mars, Europa (one of Jupiter's moons), and Enceladus (a moon of Saturn) where there just isn't enough sunlight or geothermal heat. It made me ask: could there be another way for life to get energy in these dark, cold places?' How the study worked The study explores how high-energy particles from space, known as cosmic rays, can penetrate below the surface of planetary bodies with thin or no atmospheres, such as Mars and the icy moons. When cosmic rays interact with underground water or ice, they can break apart water molecules in a process called radiolysis, producing energy-rich compounds like hydrogen. 'We have learnt from Earth that some microbes deep underground, cut off from sunlight, can survive using energy from the natural breakdown of radioactive minerals in rocks,' said Dr Atri. 'This process, called radiolysis, splits water molecules and produces chemicals like hydrogen gas, which some bacteria can use. It is not just theory, this is something we have observed in places like deep South African gold mines.' How does the study change our understanding? For decades, habitability was thought to be limited to planets within the "Goldilocks Zone", the region around a star where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface. But this new study introduces a different concept: the Radiolytic Habitable Zone (RHZ), an underground region where cosmic rays could generate enough energy to support microbial life without being too damaging. It suggests that life may also thrive in cold, sunless environments deep beneath the surface. 'The big idea was … could cosmic ray-induced radiolysis carve out a 'habitable zone' beneath the surfaces of these worlds, providing a steady and reliable energy source for microbes?' said Dr Atri. The research focused on Mars, Europa and Enceladus, which are all known to have ice or possible liquid water under their surfaces. The computer simulations showed that Enceladus had the most potential to support life in this way, followed by Mars and then Europa. Dr Atri said this work should influence how scientists design future space missions and where they target their life-detection instruments. 'If we take radiolysis seriously, we need to design missions that can drill or sense a few metres below the surface, not just scratch the top layer,' he said. 'Instruments would need to look for chemical signatures of radiolysis, like certain gases or organic molecules linked to microbial life powered by this process. 'It also means focusing on places with thinner ice or rock where cosmic rays can penetrate and water might be present, say, fissures on Enceladus, cracks in Europa's ice, or subsurface layers on Mars.' He said that if mission planners ignore the effects of cosmic rays and radiolysis, they 'could miss the promising habitats in the solar system'. How will the findings shape future missions? Most Mars missions so far have focused on the surface, but newer ones are looking to dig deeper for signs of underground life. The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover, now set to launch in 2028 after multiple delays, will carry a drill that can dig two metres below the surface to search for signs of life. Nasa's Perseverance rover has been collecting soil and rock samples from the Jezero Crater on Mars since 2021, although it drills only shallow depths. The study is also interesting because cosmic rays are typically seen as harmful, especially for humans, but this research argues that high-energy particles could be a source of energy for life underground. 'Cosmic rays are definitely a double-edged sword. They damage DNA, disrupt cell function, and, at the surface, are a big problem for both life and future astronauts,' said Dr Atri. 'That's why Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere are so important, they shield us from most of this radiation. 'But when cosmic rays hit water or ice underground, they trigger radiolysis, breaking apart water molecules and producing energy-rich compounds that some microbes could use. So, while life on the exposed surface would be at risk, microbes just the right distance below, shielded from the worst of the radiation but still close enough to get radiolysis by-products, could actually benefit.'
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
New Theory Could Dramatically Expand the Search for Aliens
The search for alien life is largely centered on finding planets in the 'Goldilocks Zone'—the distance from a star where a planet could have liquid water on its surface and enough light to sustain life. But a new study offers a tantalizing possibility that other worlds, far from their host stars, may also be able to support living things, a finding that could dramatically broaden the search for extraterrestrial life. In a paper published last week in the International Journal of Astrobiology, researchers describe how cosmic rays—high-speed beams of particles pinging across the universe—could carry enough energy to sustain life. These rays can penetrate deep into the interior of planets far from their host stars, where they could strike underground reservoirs of water. The impact from the rays would split the water particles, releasing electrons in a process called radiolysis. Certain microbes that are known to survive in dark, cold environments on Earth sustain themselves using this mechanism. If alien life could survive on radiolysis, as the findings suggest, then astronomers may need to reevaluate what is considered the habitable zone. Led by New York University Abu Dhabi's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, the researchers ran computer simulations to determine how different levels of cosmic ray exposure might influence the surfaces of three cold bodies in our solar system: Mars, Enceladus (one of Saturn's moons), and Europa (a moon of Jupiter). Specifically, they wanted to see whether cosmic rays could trigger radiolysis there, and especially on the two moons, as astronomers have long believed they could have water below their icy surfaces. The team found that Enceladus was the most promising candidate for sustaining life via radiolysis, although the simulations suggested that all three bodies could support some level of radiolysis, according to the paper. The researchers suggest that astronomers should expand what they think of as the habitable zone, dubbing this larger arena the Radiolytic Habitable Zone. 'This discovery changes the way we think about where life might exist,' lead study author Dimitra Atri said in a statement. 'Instead of looking only for warm planets with sunlight, we can now consider places that are cold and dark, as long as they have some water beneath the surface and are exposed to cosmic rays. Life might be able to survive in more places than we ever imagined,' he added.
Sustainability Times
6 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
"China Wants to Catch Ghosts Under the Sea": World's Largest Underwater Telescope Could Unlock the Most Dangerous Secrets of the Universe
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 TRIDENT is an ambitious project by China to build the world's largest underwater neutrino detector deep in the Pacific Ocean. is an ambitious project by China to build the world's largest underwater neutrino detector deep in the Pacific Ocean. 🔬 The detector aims to capture rare flashes of light caused by elusive neutrinos interacting with water molecules. interacting with water molecules. 💡 With over 24,000 optical sensors, TRIDENT will offer unprecedented sensitivity and a comprehensive all-sky observation capability. 🧩 The project hopes to uncover the origins of cosmic rays and provide insights into ancient cosmic events and new physics. China is embarking on an ambitious project to construct the world's largest neutrino detector deep beneath the ocean. Known as the Tropical Deep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT), this advanced scientific instrument will be located 11,500 feet under the surface of the Western Pacific Ocean. Set to be completed by 2030, TRIDENT aims to unravel the mysteries of neutrinos, elusive particles that pass through matter with almost no interaction. By capturing rare flashes of light caused by these ghost particles, scientists hope to trace their origins back to distant cosmic events, potentially expanding our understanding of the universe. The Science Behind Neutrinos Neutrinos are among the universe's most mysterious particles. Every second, about 100 billion of these ghostly particles pass through each square centimeter of the human body without leaving a trace. Neutrinos are produced by nuclear reactions in stars, supernova explosions, cosmic rays, and even human-made particle accelerators. Despite their abundance, they interact very little with other matter, making them incredibly challenging to detect. This elusive nature is why they are often referred to as ghost particles. First discovered in 1956, neutrinos continue to intrigue scientists. They are second only to photons as the most plentiful subatomic particles. However, their lack of an electrical charge and nearly zero mass mean they rarely interact with other particles, which has complicated efforts to study them. By detecting and analyzing neutrinos, researchers hope to gain insights into some of the most energetic and cataclysmic events in the universe. The TRIDENT project represents a significant step forward in this scientific quest. 'They Can Dodge Anything We Throw at Them': China's Secret Algorithm Outsmarts Even America's Most Advanced Hypersonic Defenses TRIDENT's Ambitious Design TRIDENT will feature an impressive arrangement of more than 24,000 optical sensors distributed across 1,211 strings, each extending 2,300 feet upward from the ocean floor. These sensors will be arranged in a Penrose tiling pattern, covering a diameter of 2.5 miles. This extensive setup will allow TRIDENT to scan an enormous volume of ocean water—approximately 1.7 cubic miles—for neutrinos. This makes it far larger and more sensitive than the current largest neutrino detector, IceCube, located in Antarctica, which covers just 0.24 cubic miles. The design of TRIDENT not only increases the likelihood of detecting neutrinos but also enhances the precision with which their origins can be traced. By using Earth as a shield, TRIDENT will detect neutrinos from the opposite side of the planet, allowing for a comprehensive all-sky observation. This groundbreaking project aims to push the limits of neutrino telescope performance and sensitivity, opening new frontiers in astrophysical research. Toyota's $15,000 Electric SUV Is Crushing the Competition in China With Local Tech, High-End Features, and Record Sales The Potential Discoveries The scientific community has high hopes for the discoveries that TRIDENT could facilitate. By capturing and analyzing the rare interactions of neutrinos with water molecules, researchers can trace these particles back to their sources, including ancient stellar explosions and galactic collisions. This ability to look back billions of light-years could provide unprecedented insights into the early universe and the forces that shaped it. Furthermore, by studying neutrinos, scientists hope to uncover the origins of cosmic rays, which remain one of the greatest mysteries in astrophysics. These highly energetic particles strike Earth's atmosphere, producing neutrinos in the process. Understanding cosmic rays may also offer clues about the most powerful particle accelerators in the universe, potentially revealing new physics beyond our current knowledge. 'They Stole Our UFO and Made It Scarier': Pentagon Officials Furious as China Unveils Alien-Looking Surveillance Drone Copy Challenges and Future Prospects Building and operating TRIDENT presents several challenges, including the technical difficulties of installing and maintaining equipment at such great ocean depths. However, the potential rewards are significant. The pilot phase of the project is set to begin in 2026, with the full detector expected to be operational by 2030. As TRIDENT becomes fully operational, it promises to transform our understanding of the universe and the fundamental forces that govern it. As researchers push the boundaries of particle physics and cosmology, TRIDENT stands as a testament to human curiosity and ingenuity. The project not only highlights the collaborative efforts required for such large-scale scientific endeavors but also underscores the importance of exploring the unknown. What new insights might TRIDENT uncover about our universe, and how will these discoveries shape our understanding of the cosmos in the years to come? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (28)
Economy ME
28-07-2025
- Science
- Economy ME
Could life exist underground on Mars or Enceladus? NYUAD study says yes
A groundbreaking study from NYU Abu Dhabi has revealed that cosmic rays — high-energy particles from space — could provide the energy needed to support life beneath the surfaces of planets and moons in our solar system. The research, published in the International Journal of Astrobiology, challenges long-standing beliefs that life requires sunlight or geothermal heat to survive. Led by Dimitra Atri , principal investigator of the Space Exploration Laboratory at NYUAD's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), the study shows that cosmic rays may not only be harmless in certain subsurface environments, but could actively fuel microscopic life. The process, known as radiolysis, occurs when cosmic rays interact with water or ice underground, breaking water molecules and releasing electrons. Enceladus (Saturn's moon) – NASA Read: MBRU scientists publish first Arab Pangenome Reference in major genomic breakthrough Energy source for microorganisms Some Earth bacteria use these electrons as an energy source, much like plants rely on sunlight. Using advanced computer simulations, the team examined how much energy radiolysis could generate on Mars and on the icy moons Enceladus (Saturn) and Europa (Jupiter). Enceladus showed the highest potential to support life, followed by Mars and Europa. Research breakthrough 'This discovery changes the way we think about where life might exist,' said Atri. 'Instead of looking only for warm planets with sunlight, we can now consider places that are cold and dark, as long as they have some water beneath the surface and are exposed to cosmic rays. Life might be able to survive in more places than we ever imagined.' Radiolytic Habitable Zone The study introduces the concept of the Radiolytic Habitable Zone — a new way of identifying potentially life-supporting environments not based on proximity to a star, but on the presence of subsurface water and exposure to cosmic radiation. This expands the possibilities for habitable worlds beyond the traditional 'Goldilocks Zone', also known as the habitable zone. It is the region around a star where a planet's temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface. Redefining future space exploration The findings provide critical direction for future space exploration. Rather than focusing solely on surface conditions, missions may begin targeting underground environments on Mars and icy moons, using instruments designed to detect the chemical energy generated by cosmic radiation. The research opens exciting new frontiers in the search for extraterrestrial life, suggesting that even the darkest, coldest places in the solar system could harbor the necessary conditions for life to survive.
