Coffee Chat

Brett and Sommer Johansen chat about her paper on Ab Inito nanoreactors.

• Sommer's Paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00120

The Grab & GO

1. Formation of Paraldehyde (C6H12O3) in Interstellar Analog Ices of Acetaldehyde Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

Wang et al. Chem Phys Chem
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cphc.202400837?af=R  

2. Proposed importance of HOCO chemistry: Inefficient formation of CO2 from CO and OH reactions on ice dust

Ishibashi et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.01373  

3. Characterization of monosubstituted benzene ices

Piacentino et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.03574

4. Ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH): a potential significant sulfur sink in interstellar ices

Slavicinska et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.02860

5. Interstellar Formation of Nitrogen Heteroaromatics [Indole, C8H7N; Pyrrole, C4H5N; Aniline, C6H5NH2]: Key Precursors to Amino Acids and Nucleobases

Wang et al. (JACS)
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.4c09449

6. Ice origins of OCS and chemistry of CS2-bearing ice mantles

Martin-Domenech et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.07736

7. Evidence for Abiotic Dimethyl Sulfide in Cometary Matter

Hanni et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.08724

8. Tentative Detection of Cyclopropenylidene in Comets

Chuang et al. MNRAS
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stae2105/7824429?rss=1

9. High-temperature dust formation in carbon-rich astrophysical environments

Libourel et al. Nature Astronomy
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02393-7

10. Grapevines grown from canes having spent 10 months in space: study of their downy mildew susceptibility

Taillis et al. Frontiers
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1415376/full

Single-Origin Brew

Divita Gupta Interview with Gabi Wenzel

• Gabi's Paper: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq6391

Percolator

• Continuing the journey of amino acids in comets

Chalkboard

• Job Openings

  • The Department of Physics at Auburn University is inviting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Experimental Laboratory Astrophysics. We are seeking a talented and driven experimentalist to join our department and lead an innovative research program that enhances our understanding of astrophysical processes, astrochemical reactions, and the fundamental physics of atomic and molecular interactions in space environments.
    
    The ideal candidate will have expertise in experimental techniques that complement astronomical observations and space exploration, contributing to interdisciplinary research in astrophysics, astrochemistry, heliophysics, planetary science, and other related fields. This position also offers the opportunity to teach and mentor students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Review begins November 15

https://www.auemployment.com/postings/48943 

• Upcoming Meetings

  • The Spring Meeting of the American Chemical Society, to be held next March in San Diego, CA, will feature a Symposium to Honor Eric Herbst’s Contributions to Our Understanding of the Molecular Universe.
    
    Anyone who has worked in the field of astrochemistry will have come across Eric. He changed our understanding of the reactivity of molecules in the interstellar medium. He showed that interstellar molecules are not just chemical curiosities but are excellent probes of physical conditions. His influence has been felt through his mentorship and generous collaborations and the current field is populated with his former students and postdocs, now leading their own research groups in astrochemistry. This symposium will honor Eric’s immense contributions to the field, upon his retirement, by bringing together his former students, postdocs and collaborators from across the globe to discuss current state of the art and future directions in astrochemistry.
    
    Abstract submission is closed September 30th, but registration remains open.
    
    

  • Towards New Frontiers: The Astrochemical Journey from Young Stellar Nurseries to Exoplanets will be held in Garching, Germany the week of 10th March 2025.
    
    Characterising the chemical composition of young prestellar and protostellar systems and understanding their evolution is crucial to retrieve the chemical content that forming planets will inherit. In recent years, our community has taken major steps forward to understand the content of protostellar regions and their evolution. Large observational campaigns at millimeter wavelengths with facilities, such as IRAM 30m, ALMA, NOEMA, in the radio regime with GBT and VLA, as well as new results from JWST in the mid-IR provided us a wealth of information, as well as new open questions. Two of the main open questions are: i) how much of the molecular content in pre-stellar and protostellar systems is reprocessed or maintained in the subsequent stages? ii) How does the chemical characterisation of exoplanets reflect the chemical content in the early stages of their formation?
    
    This workshop aims to convene observers working on various stages of star/planet formation to investigate these pressing questions. We seek to comprehend the current state-of-the-art in chemical evolution and forge new connections within the star formation and the exoplanet communities. We aim to delineate current observational limitations and offer valuable insights to the community on the future ESO facilities and upgrades, such as ALMA Wide Sensitivity upgrade (WSU) and ELT, and new and future instruments such as ngVLA, SKA and JWST. With a multi-wavelength approach, going from infrared to centimeter, this workshop offers a distinctive and unique perspective that sets it apart from previous and forthcoming events in our field.
    
    Deadline for abstract submission is November 10th.  https://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2025/tnf.html