Tag

Isotopes

All articles tagged with #isotopes

science9 days ago•4 min saved

Bennu’s Amino Acids Point to Ice-Driven Origins of Life’s Building Blocks

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx samples from the 4.6-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu reveal amino acids, including glycine, can form in space and may arise in icy, radiation-exposed conditions in the early Solar System rather than only in liquid water; this suggests multiple pathways for the building blocks of life and shows Bennu’s isotopic signatures differ from the Murchison meteorite, indicating diverse origins for prebiotic molecules.

via Universe Today|

#amino-acids #bennu #glycine

science16 days ago•6 min saved

Two-Tier Rituals Mark Europe’s Earliest Wars, Neolithic Study Finds

A multi-isotope analysis of Neolithic mass graves in Alsace, France, suggests Europe’s earliest violent encounters were deliberate rituals: local enemies were dismembered as trophies, while captives from farther regions were executed in public displays, indicating violence served political theater to assert dominance and shape group identity.

via ScienceDaily|

#archaeology #europe #isotopes

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Moon Dust Rewrites Earth's Ocean Origin

A NASA-led study of Apollo-era lunar regolith using triple oxygen isotope analysis finds only a small fraction of Earth's ocean water could have been delivered by meteorites over the past four billion years, challenging the long-held view that late meteorite impacts were the primary source of Earth's oceans.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#isotopes #meteorites #moon

space1 month ago•4 min saved

Electric Dust Storms Forge Perchlorates on Mars, Rewriting Surface Chemistry

A new study argues that Martian dust storms generate electrostatic discharges that create high-energy electrons, driving reactions between atmospheric CO2 and ground chloride salts to form perchlorates and carbonates without liquid water. This electrochemical pathway also explains the observed isotopic imbalances, with lighter isotopes preferentially involved in these reactions. The research, demonstrated in lab chambers simulating Mars’ environment, suggests electrical processes are a key driver of Mars’ surface chemistry, poses ongoing challenges for future missions (due to perchlorates), and may have parallels on other dusty worlds.

via Universe Today|

#dust-storms #electrochemistry #isotopes

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Proton-Neutron Surprises: Island of Inversion Spotted in Symmetric Molybdenum Nuclei

A Nature Communications study shows Mo-84 and Mo-86 near the proton–neutron balance line (N≈Z) exhibit an island of inversion, with protons and neutrons engaging in particle-hole excitations that deform the nucleus. Using Be targets and Mo-92 beams, gamma rays were detected by GRETINA and TRIPLEX, revealing symmetry-breaking structure in these proton-rich isotopes—a finding that challenges traditional nuclear models and expands where inversions can occur.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#island-of-inversion #isotopes #molybdenum

space1 month ago•5 min saved

Chang'e-6 Dust Reveals the Moon’s Hidden Interior After a Giant Collision

A new analysis of dust from the Moon’s far side collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission finds heavier potassium isotopes than near-side samples, suggesting the South Pole–Aitken impact heated the Moon so intensely that lighter isotopes vaporized and escaped, reshaping the Moon’s mantle and leaving long-lasting hemispheric chemical differences and possibly triggering deep interior processes.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#change-6 #far-side #isotopes

science3 months ago•3 min saved

New Evidence of Water and Climate Insights on Ancient Mars

A study analyzing oxygen isotopes in rocks sampled by NASA's Curiosity Rover suggests that 3.7 billion years ago, Gale Crater on Mars had a warm, dry environment with significant evaporation, providing insights into the planet's past habitability and water cycle.

via Phys.org|

#ancient-climate #curiosity-rover #gale-crater

science8 months ago•4 min saved

Life-Forming Molecules Found in Young Star's Disk

Astronomers discovered rare isotopes of methanol in the gas around the young star HD 100453, providing insights into the organic ingredients available for planet formation and the potential origins of life, with implications for understanding how complex molecules necessary for life may develop in star systems.

via Earth.com|

#astrochemistry #isotopes #methanol

space-and-physics1 year ago•3 min saved

"Unveiling Secrets of Ancient Supernova Stardust in Meteorite"

A rare dust particle found in an ancient meteorite has been determined to be older than the Sun, with a composition indicating it originated from an unusual type of supernova. The grain's isotopic ratios suggest it was formed by a hydrogen-burning supernova, a rare type of Type II supernova. This discovery provides valuable insights into the formation of the Solar System and the types of stars that contributed to its composition.

via IFLScience|

#isotopes #meteorite #presolar-grain

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Discovery of Novel Isotopes Redefines Nuclear Stability"

Physicists at the Institute of Modern Physics and collaborators have discovered two new isotopes, osmium-160 and tungsten-156, challenging traditional views on nuclear stability and magic numbers. This breakthrough suggests potential for lead-164 to be a stable, doubly magic nucleus, enhancing the understanding of nuclear physics and the architecture of atomic nuclei. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, indicates a significant step forward in nuclear theory and stability, with implications for the development of nuclear forces and deepening our understanding of nuclear physics.

via SciTechDaily|

#institute-of-modern-physics #isotopes #magic-numbers

science2 years ago•5 min saved

"Unveiling 5 New Isotopes: Advancing Our Understanding of Cosmic Element Formation"

Scientists at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University have synthesized five new isotopes, including Thulium-182 and ytterbium-187, which have never been found on Earth before. These isotopes could help scientists understand how collisions between neutron stars create heavy elements like gold and silver. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, represents a step towards recreating superheavy elements on Earth to better understand the creation of heavy elements and their implications for nuclear physics.

via Space.com|

#astrophysics #gold #isotopes

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Synthesis of Osmium-160 and Tungsten-156 Isotopes by Researchers"

Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have synthesized two new isotopes, osmium-160 and tungsten-156, shedding light on nuclear structures and suggesting the potential doubly magic nature of lead-164. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, reveals the enhanced stability of the N=82 shell closure on the neutron-deficient side, providing valuable insights into nuclear forces and the potential disappearance of traditional magic numbers in extremely neutron-deficient regions. The findings were highlighted as an Editors' Suggestion, emphasizing the significance of further exploration to enrich and develop nuclear theories.

via Phys.org|

#chinese-academy-of-sciences #isotopes #nuclear-physics

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Uncovering Novel Isotopes: Expanding Our Understanding of Fundamental Science"

Physicists at Michigan State University have discovered new isotopes of rare-Earth elements thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium by breaking apart the nuclei of platinum using the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). This achievement will aid in understanding neutron-rich nuclei and the processes that forge new elements in neutron star collisions, potentially replicating the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process) responsible for creating heavy elements in the Universe. The discovery demonstrates the power of FRIB and its potential for advancing nuclear physics and astrophysics.

via ScienceAlert|

#frib #isotopes #neutron-stars

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Unveiling the Impact of New Nuclei on Fundamental Science in Earth and Cosmos"

An international research team at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) has successfully created five new isotopes, bringing them closer to understanding the natural processes that produce new elements in stars. These isotopes can help refine our understanding of fundamental nuclear physics and may provide insights into the creation of heavy elements like gold in neutron star collisions. The team's achievement opens up new opportunities for nuclear research and paves the way for further exploration into the unknown realms of nuclear science.

via Phys.org|

#astrophysics #frib #fundamental-science

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Woolly Mammoth's Epic 600-Mile Journey Unveils Clues to Extinction"

Using ancient DNA and isotopic analysis of a mammoth's tusk, researchers have tracked the life and travels of a female mammoth named Élmayųujey’eh in Alaska, approximately 14,000 years ago. This study, along with earlier work on a male mammoth, provides unprecedented insights into the lives of specific animals and Pleistocene ecology. The tusk's isotopic information revealed her movements and connections to areas once inhabited by ancient humans, shedding light on her life and environment. The mammoth's name, chosen by the Healy Lake Village Tribe, reflects Dene humor and affection, and the research showcases the potential of combining scientific analysis with Indigenous knowledge.

via Ars Technica|

#alaska #ancient-dna #indigenous-knowledge