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1. SCIENCE
# A PhD candidate creates a “universe in a bottle” to uncover how life on Earth began
A PhD candidate, Linda Losurdo at the University of Sydney, recreated a "universe in a bottle" by simulating space-like chemical environments in the lab. Using nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and acetylene exposed to high-voltage plasma, she produced cosmic dust from scratch. This experiment mimics conditions in stellar nebulae and helps scientists study the chemical pathways that formed complex organic molecules—the building blocks of life—before life began on Earth.
The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, offers a new way to analyze the infrared spectral fingerprints of cosmic dust, aiding the understanding of the chemical makeup of asteroids and meteorites. It also explores whether life's essential elements (CHON: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen) formed in space and were delivered to Earth via comets and asteroids.
Ultimately, the project aims to build a comprehensive database of infrared signatures from lab-grown cosmic dust, improving astronomers' ability to identify and study materials in space and enhancing knowledge of the Milky Way's chemical evolution.
(Source: The Times of India – By TOI Sci
