Space dust holds an unexpected surprise for scientists!

 

Space dust holds an unexpected surprise for scientists!

International researchers have found that the "dust of the universe", which is the basic building block for the formation of stars and planets in space, is more similar in composition to sponges than to solid particles as previously thought.

After a comprehensive review of years of scientific research, a team of astronomers and astrochemists discovered that these microscopic grains that spread in star-forming regions - such as the famous Pillars of Creation nebula - have a porous structure resembling a thin sponge.

Professor Martin Makostra from Heriot

Watt University in Edinburgh explains this phenomenon, saying: "We have always imagined cosmic dust grains as miniature rock masses, but the truth is that they are like small, soft sponges, in which small voids and pores are spread".

This discovery

has major implications for our understanding of the evolution of the universe, as the composition of dust affects how light travels through space, and also plays a pivotal role in the formation of organic molecules that represent the basis of life.

Evidence supporting

1. this discovery comes from several sources, most notably
2. the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission
3. which studied comet 67P

and discovered the presence of very fragile dust particles, some of which have a porosity of more than 99%, meaning they are almost empty from the inside.

But this spongy structure makes cosmic dust more vulnerable to space factors, explains Professor Makostra: "Porous grains can be more easily destroyed by shocks and radiation during their journey through interstellar space".

Dr. Alexei Potapov

lead author of the study, points out that this discovery

 may change our basic understanding of chemical processes in space

explaining:

 "If these grains are porous in this way, this means that their surface area is much larger than we imagined, which may radically change our understanding of the way molecules form and evolve in space".

However

the scientific community remains divided on this issue, with some theoretical models suggesting that high porosity may make dust grains too cold or too brittle, which does not match telescopic observations of interstellar clouds.

The study emphasizes

• the need for more precise observations and observations

• in addition to conducting advanced laboratory experiments

• and creating more accurate simulation models

to reach a comprehensive understanding of the nature of

cosmic dust and its role in the formation of stars, planets, and life itself.

Scientists observe an amazing atmosphere of a planet that does not orbit a star

Astronomers from

Trinity College Dublin used the James Webb Telescope to conduct a detailed study of the atmosphere on the hot planet SIMP-0136, which does not orbit a star.

Such planets are known as stray

or orphan planets.

The brown dwarf "SIMP-0136" is located about 20 light-years from the Sun, and occupies an intermediate position between the star and the planet. 

Thanks to the high sensitivity of

the James Webb Telescope :

scientists were able to observe slight changes in the brightness of this rotating celestial body, which allowed them to study temperature fluctuations, its chemical composition, and the formation of clouds in its atmosphere.

The results

revealed strong aurora-like aurora activity on

Earth and giant lights on Jupiter

which leads to

additional heating of the upper layers of the atmosphere. The planet's temperature exceeds 1,500 degrees Celsius, while observed fluctuations (by 5 degrees Celsius) have been associated with changes in chemical composition, indicating the presence of stormy regions resembling Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

Interestingly

• the planet is covered in low clouds that do not disappear

• but are not aqueous in origin, but rather consist of silicate particles 

• more like sand grains — that form at very high temperatures.

Dr. Everett Nasidkin, a researcher at Trinity College School of Physics and lead author of the research published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics

said:

"This is one of the most accurate measurements of the atmosphere of any celestial body outside the solar system ever made, and the first time that changes in atmospheric properties have been measured directly."

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