Dust in space - microbes or minerals?
Abstract
The possibilities that unidentified interstellar dust particles contain organic matter and even microbes and viruses are explored, along with the methods for the identification. The interstellar extinction curve allows determination of the dimming effect on starlight by interposed dust clouds, and is used to identify the grains by measurement of the IR and UV components of scattering and absorption. Bacterial particles have been shown to display the same scattering properties as mineral particles. Specific attention is given to absorption observations at 9.7 microns, which matches silicates, but is also an absorption feature of cellulose. Searches for absorption features around 3 microns, which are characteristic of organic substances, in clouds and chondrites which have the 9.7 micron features, have revealed the presence of inorganic, carbon based molecules, which throws renewed doubt on the possibilities of organic interstellar dust.
- Publication:
-
New Scientist
- Pub Date:
- January 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982NewSc..93..240W
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Interstellar Extinction;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Microorganisms;
- Minerals;
- Cellulose;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Light Scattering;
- Material Absorption;
- Micrometeoroids;
- Organic Compounds;
- Silicates;
- Ultraviolet Spectra;
- COSMIC DUST;
- COMPOSITION;
- GRAINS;
- GASES;
- ORGANIC MATERIAL;
- WAVELENGTHS;
- ABSORPTION;
- SCATTERING;
- TELESCOPIC OBSERVATIONS;
- ENERGY;
- DISTRIBUTION;
- SIZE;
- HEAVY ELEMENTS;
- CARBON;
- NITROGEN;
- OXYGEN;
- SPECTRUM;
- INFRARED;
- ABUNDANCE;
- CLOUDS;
- MINERALS;
- ULTRAVIOLET;
- COMPARISONS;
- SILICATES;
- SAMPLES;
- METEORITE;
- MURCHISON;
- GRAPHITES;
- Astrophysics; Miscellaneous;
- Interstellar Dust