Space and planetary science
The latest chemistry news and research on space, including planetary science and astrochemistry, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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FeatureHow satellite remote sensing is enhancing our understanding of Earth
Instruments in space have studied the planet’s atmosphere and surface, and are now being joined by powerful new ones, finds Andy Extance
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ResearchLow-energy electrons in cosmic ice spring surprise by generating prebiotic molecules
Electrons play a far more significant role than photons in creating molecules that might have kick-started life on Earth
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NewsControversial phosphine findings on Venus corroborated
Unpublished data reveals that phosphine – a potential marker of life – is likely present although could be a result of unknown chemistry
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ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
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ResearchCassini probe’s radar provide new insight into Titan’s liquid hydrocarbon seas
Seas have different ratios of methane to ethane
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ResearchAI trained on photos of salt ‘stains’ can predict their chemical composition
Imaging could become a simple way to identify inorganic salt crystals on other planets
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ResearchInterstellar cloud conditions yield ‘impossible molecule’
Discovery of rule-breaking compound hypothesised to exist for decades ‘pushes the boundaries of our understandings of chemistry’
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FeatureThe surprising organic chemistry in interstellar space
Even in the bleak wastelands of interstellar space complex organic molecules seem to find a way to form. Anna Demming finds out how
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OpinionAtmospheres conducive to life
Researchers propose a new biosignature that could hint at habitable exoplanets
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ResearchSuperheavy elements forged in giant stellar collisions
Nuclei with mass numbers above 260 are produced in r -process events
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ResearchInterstellar ices could have been the nursery for building blocks of life
Modelling conditions thought to exist between the stars led to formation of amino acid precursors
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FeatureThe perchlorate Martian mystery
Rachel Brazil looks at how the compounds might have formed on our neighbouring planet and whether they could be useful for future exploration
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ResearchCrystal analysis pushes the moon’s age back 40 million years
Samples retrieved by Apollo astronauts show that the moon formed 4.46 billion years ago
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WebinarAstronomical spectroscopy: understanding the complex chemistry hidden between the stars
Find out how scientists are resolving the chemistry of the gaps between the stars and planets
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NewsExplainer: has life been discovered on an exoplanet?
Potential detection of dimethyl sulfide on K2-18 b has excited the scientific community but it’s still much too early to reach any conclusions
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OpinionPredicting and discovering in chemistry
How scientists look into the past, present and future
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ResearchSpace dust has more organic contamination than the average US home
First ever analysis of persistent organic chemicals in the International Space Station’s air could guide future spacecraft design
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OpinionCan life exist outside of the habitable zone?
Speculation about conditions on Venus raises questions about our existing definitions
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ResearchLiquid water could have carved Mars’ famous gullies
CO2 sublimation could have raised atmospheric pressure enough for liquid water to form
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NewsDrones take flight to go where scientists dare not
From making chemical plants safer to sampling volcanoes and even exploring other planets uncrewed aerial systems could revolutionise science