Stars R Us: the cosmic chemistry connection

Stars R Us：宇宙化学联系

• 批准号: EP/E022693/1
• 负责人: Martin McCoustra
• 金额: $ 0.33万
• 依托单位: University of Nottingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2006 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FE022693%2F1
• 关键词: Stars; Us; cosmic; chemistry; connection

We are all made of star stuff! The atoms inside us were forged in the nuclear furnaces of stars. In stellar atmospheres, some elements form star-dust, which is blown out into space. In interstellar regions, chemical reactions between gases and dust turn the elements into increasingly complex molecules; over 150 have already been identified in space to date. These molecular cauldrons subsequently form the stellar nurseries from which new stars and planets form. The importance of molecules as progenitors for star formation, and for life, is not lost on astronomers. Chemists and Astronomers are now working together to understand how these 'space' molecules are formed, and the key role that they play in star formation. But how can we probe chemical reactions occurring literally light years from Earth? Our exhibit highlights the role of spectroscopy in unravelling these astrochemical reactions, detecting 'space molecules', and observing star and planet formation. Through tactile, eye-catching demonstrations, intuitive posters and videos, we make this interdisciplinary science accessible to the public. We will show how Astrochemistry is combining clues gleaned from the newest telescopes with sophisticated laboratory experiments and computer modelling, to specifically seek out the molecular markers of life. Our exhibit combines the expertise of Astrochemists from Strathclyde, UCL, Nottingham and the Open University, with the 'PUS' expertise of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The science described in the exhibit is based on the astrochemistry/astrophysics research currently underway in the research groups of Brown, Fraser, McCoustra and Mason and on the astronomy research underway in the research group of Viti. Much of this research is currently funded by the EPSRC. This area of science ideally lends itself to public understanding activities, as it is an unusual circumstance in any culture that a person has not looked at the night sky and wondered at their significance and where we come from. Perhaps this is why the public holds astronomy in such high-regard, and are knowledgeable enough to be open to advanced concepts related to our understanding of the universe. This interest is clearly confirmed by the popularity of Amateur Astronomy Clubs UK-wide, the popularity of Astronomy GCSE, A-Level and degree studies, and the high viewing figures for (any) space-based programming on the BBC and Discovery Channel. By combining it with chemistry, astronomy becomes even more exciting. Astrochemistry offers us a unique route to engaging adults, schoolchildren and students in the importance of cross-disciplinary work and the role of chemistry in the interstellar medium. It is clearly an inspirational subject / aspects of star and planet formation appear in Standard grade and Higher syllabi in Scotland and the equivalent school qualifications in England. We are confident, therefore, that the work this exhibit will describe will be accessible to all children and adults, widening general scientific literacy and supporting lifelong learning.

我们都是由明星材料组成的！我们体内的原子是在恒星的核熔炉中锻造的。在恒星大气中，一些元素形成星尘，被吹入太空。在星际区域，气体和尘埃之间的化学反应将元素变成越来越复杂的分子；迄今为止，已在太空中识别出超过 150 个。这些分子大锅随后形成恒星苗圃，新的恒星和行星从中形成。天文学家并没有忽视分子作为恒星形成和生命起源的重要性。化学家和天文学家现在正在共同努力了解这些“太空”分子是如何形成的，以及它们在恒星形成中发挥的关键作用。但我们如何才能探测距离地球数光年发生的化学反应呢？我们的展览强调了光谱学在揭示这些天体化学反应、探测“空间分子”以及观察恒星和行星形成方面的作用。通过引人注目的触觉演示、直观的海报和视频，我们让公众了解这一跨学科科学。我们将展示天体化学如何将从最新望远镜收集的线索与复杂的实验室实验和计算机建模相结合，以专门寻找生命的分子标记。我们的展览结合了来自斯特拉斯克莱德大学、伦敦大学学院、诺丁汉大学和开放大学的天体化学家的专业知识，以及格林威治皇家天文台的“PUS”专业知识。展览中描述的科学基于布朗、弗雷泽、麦库斯特拉和梅森研究小组目前正在进行的天体化学/天体物理学研究以及维蒂研究小组正在进行的天文学研究。目前大部分研究均由 EPSRC 资助。这一科学领域非常适合公众理解活动，因为在任何文化中，一个人没有仰望夜空并想知道它们的重要性和我们来自哪里，都是不寻常的情况。也许这就是为什么公众对天文学如此高度重视，并且知识渊博，能够接受与我们对宇宙的理解相关的先进概念。英国业余天文学俱乐部的受欢迎程度、天文学 GCSE、A-Level 和学位课程的受欢迎程度，以及 BBC 和探索频道上（任何）太空节目的高收视率都清楚地证实了这种兴趣。通过将其与化学相结合，天文学变得更加令人兴奋。天体化学为我们提供了一种独特的途径，让成年人、中学生和学生了解跨学科工作的重要性以及化学在星际介质中的作用。这显然是一个鼓舞人心的主题/恒星和行星形成的方面出现在苏格兰的标准年级和更高的教学大纲以及英格兰的同等学校资格中。因此，我们相信，本次展览所描述的作品将可供所有儿童和成人使用，从而扩大一般科学素养并支持终身学习。