All articles tagged with #sulfur
Lab experiments using the 1891 Indarch meteorite recreate Mercury-like magmas and show sulfur can substitute for oxygen, lowering crystallization temperatures and challenging Earth-centric models of rocky-planet evolution.
Researchers at Rice University used the Indarch meteorite to create Mercury-analog rocks in a lab, exposing how sulfur shapes Mercury’s crust and magmatic history. By simulating Mercury-like temperatures and pressures, they found sulfur replaces oxygen’s usual bonding partners on Earth, binding with elements like magnesium and calcium instead of iron, which weakens silicate structures and may prolong magmatic activity. The work, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, offers a new approach to understanding Mercury’s unique, sulfur-rich surface chemistry without direct samples from the planet.
NASA’s Curiosity rover uncovered pure elemental sulfur crystals in a rock within the Gediz Vallis Channel on Mars, a rare find that could reshape ideas about the planet’s geology and past water activity.
Curiosity cracked open a rock in the Gediz Vallis Channel on Mars to reveal pure elemental sulfur, the first such find on the planet, suggesting sulfur-rich processes in this ancient waterway. While sulfates are common on Mars, the origin of this pure sulfur is unclear and will require further analysis and modeling as the rover continues its exploration.
NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally cracked open a Martian rock, revealing a field of glowing yellow sulfur crystals—an unexpected find on Mars that could reshape ideas about Martian geology, with Perseverance reporting other unusual rocks.
A JWST study of HR 8799’s three inner gas giants detects hydrogen sulfide in their atmospheres, revealing heavy-element enrichment consistent with solid-material accretion during formation. The finding suggests these 5–10 Jupiter-mass planets may have formed in a Jupiter-like way despite their wide, distant orbits, challenging simple core-accretion models and hinting at a more complex, potentially mixed formation path; the results were published in Nature Astronomy.
Astronomers detected thiepine (C6H6S), the largest sulfur-bearing molecule observed in interstellar space, in the G+0.693–0.027 molecular cloud near the Galactic center. By lab-synthesizing the molecule and matching its spectral fingerprint with observations from the IRAM 30m and Yebes 40m telescopes, researchers confirmed its presence and reinforced the idea that complex sulfur chemistry in star-forming regions could lay the groundwork for prebiotic molecules, linking space chemistry to the origins of life. The finding, published in Nature Astronomy, expands known interstellar sulfur chemistry and suggests more complex molecules await discovery.
Astronomers have identified the largest sulfur-containing molecule ever seen in interstellar space—a 13-atom compound called 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione—within a molecular cloud about 27,000 light-years from Earth. The discovery, made using radio telescopes IRAM-30m and Yebes and confirmed by a laboratory-synthesized radio fingerprint, fills a gap between simple space chemistry and the complex molecules tied to life. Researchers say sulfur-bearing molecules may be far more common in space than previously thought and could be delivered to early Earth via comets and meteorites, helping to bootstrap the chemistry that led to life. The finding suggests many more such sulfur-rich molecules could be detected in the future.
Scientists reported the largest sulfur-bearing molecule ever found in space—2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione, a 13-atom compound—in a Nature Astronomy study, suggesting sulfur-containing molecules could be abundant beyond Earth and may be part of the building blocks of life.
Astronomers have detected the largest sulfur-bearing molecule in interstellar space—a 13-atom compound called 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione—inside a molecular cloud about 27,000 light-years away, bridging a gap between simple space chemistry and the complex molecules linked to life. The molecule was synthesized in the lab from thiophenol, its radio fingerprint matched observations from the IRAM-30m and Yebes telescopes, and researchers say sulfur-containing compounds could be more common in space than previously thought, potentially seeding early Earth’s chemistry via comets and meteorites.
NASA's Curiosity rover discovered pure elemental sulfur in a Martian rock, a surprising find that suggests unknown geological processes, and continues to explore the ancient waterway of Gediz Vallis, revealing new insights into Mars's history and potential habitability.
Researchers discovered a Yellowstone bacterium that can simultaneously use oxygen and sulfur to produce energy, challenging traditional views of microbial respiration and highlighting its adaptability in fluctuating environments, with implications for understanding early Earth conditions and environmental management.
Researchers discovered a bacteria, RSW1, capable of simultaneously performing aerobic and anaerobic respiration, using oxygen and sulfur compounds at the same time, which may provide insights into microbial evolution during Earth's oxygenation events.
The article discusses the analysis of the extremely stripped supernova SN2021yfj, revealing insights into silicon and sulfur formation sites through spectral data available in public archives, highlighting the importance of spectral analysis in understanding supernovae composition and evolution.
NASA's Curiosity rover discovered pure elemental sulfur in a rock on Mars, a first on the planet, suggesting unknown geological processes. The find, along with the surrounding area rich in sulfur-like objects, raises questions about Mars's geological history and the presence of sulfur in its environment, which is vital for life. The discovery was accidental when the rover cracked open the rock, revealing the surprising mineral, and ongoing analysis aims to understand how sulfur accumulated there.