Tag

Infrared Spectroscopy

All articles tagged with #infrared spectroscopy

astronomy1 month ago•7 min saved

Webb Spots Dramatic Day-Night Atmosphere Split on WASP-121 b

JWST transit observations of WASP-121 b reveal a clear day–night atmospheric split: the evening terminator is hotter and expands more, absorbing more starlight, likely driven by eastward winds; CO signals rise with temperature, while water is depleted at the upper atmosphere, hinting at clouds cooling the morning side. By tracking the planet's rotation during transit, researchers map atmospheric conditions by longitude and aim to study more ultra-hot Jupiters with this method.

via SciTechDaily|

#astronomy #atmospheric-dynamics #exoplanets

space1 month ago•5 min saved

JWST Reveals an Airless, 30% Bigger Rocky World Orbiting a Red Dwarf

Using JWST's MIRI to measure mid-infrared emissions, scientists studied the rocky, tidally locked exoplanet LHS 3844b, about 50 light-years away. The dayside reaches around 1,000 K, and the spectrum implies a basaltic/mantle-like surface with little to no atmosphere, suggesting a Mercury-like, geologically inactive world rather than an Earth-like tectonically active planet. Researchers plan additional JWST observations to better constrain the crust and surface properties; the findings were published in Nature Astronomy.

via ScienceAlert|

#exoplanets #infrared-spectroscopy #jwst

space4 months ago•3 min saved

New Yardstick for Life: Complexity Over Signatures in Exoplanet Atmospheres

Astrobiologists propose Assembly Theory as an Earth-agnostic metric for detecting life on exoplanets, evaluating how hard molecules are to assemble rather than simply listing atmospheric species. A high assembly index and interconnected chemistry would signal life, avoiding many Earth-centric false positives. Comparing Earth, Venus, and Mars shows Earth as the most chemically diverse, and the method would yield a continuous life-likelihood score obtainable from infrared spectra, compatible with NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory.

via Universe Today|

#assembly-theory #biosignatures #exoplanets

science-tech4 months ago•11 min saved

Infrared fingerprints tie some 3D-printed guns to their filament

A Curtin University study published in Forensic Chemistry shows that infrared spectroscopy of 3D-printing filaments can distinguish many filament types and link seized ghost guns to their source, challenging the notion that ghost guns are truly untraceable; however, some filaments remain indistinguishable, and researchers plan to add more analytical techniques to strengthen traceability.

via The Conversation|

#3d-printing #filaments #forensic-chemistry

science10 months ago•1 min saved

James Webb and NASA's Telescopes Uncover Mysteries of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

NASA/ESA/CSA's James Webb Space Telescope observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in August 2025, providing detailed data on its size, composition, and physical properties, complementing observations from other space telescopes to enhance understanding of such objects in our Solar System.

via European Space Agency|

#3iatlas #infrared-spectroscopy #interstellar-comet

science11 months ago•5 min saved

Infrared Tech May Detect Alien Ice Types

Researchers have developed a method using infrared spectroscopy to identify different exotic ice phases on icy moons like Ganymede, which could provide insights into their internal structures without needing to return samples to Earth, leveraging observations from telescopes like JWST.

via eos.org|

#exotic-ice #ganymede #ice-phases

science2 years ago•7 min saved

Ergodicity Breaking: Unraveling the Quantum Spin of Soccer Balls and Footballs

Scientists have observed unique ergodicity-breaking behaviors in the rotations of the C60 molecule, also known as a buckyball, using advanced infrared spectroscopy. This discovery provides new insights into quantum system dynamics and opens up possibilities for further molecular investigations. The researchers found that the ergodicity breaking in C60 occurs without symmetry breaking and can switch on and off as the molecule spins faster. Understanding ergodicity breaking could help in designing optimized materials for energy and heat transfer.

via SciTechDaily|

#c60-molecule #ergodicity-breaking #infrared-spectroscopy

science2 years ago•6 min saved

"Unveiling the Revolutionary Concept of Ergodicity Breaking with a Fresh 'Spin'"

Researchers have observed ergodicity breaking in the rotations of C60, a highly symmetric molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms. This breaking of ergodicity occurs without symmetry breaking and can switch on and off as the molecule spins faster. The study provides insights into the quantum dynamics of the system and could help in designing optimized materials for energy and heat transfer.

via Phys.org|

#c60-molecule #ergodicity-breaking #infrared-spectroscopy