Stars R Us: the cosmic chemistry connection

我们都是由星星组成的！我们体内的原子是在恒星的核熔炉中锻造出来的。在恒星大气中，一些元素形成星尘，被吹到太空中。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，已经在太空中确定了150多个。这些分子坩埚随后形成了新恒星和行星形成的恒星托儿所。分子作为星星形成和生命的祖先的重要性，天文学家并没有忘记。化学家和天文学家现在正在共同努力，以了解这些“空间”分子是如何形成的，以及它们在星星形成中扮演的关键角色。但是我们如何探测发生在地球光年之外的化学反应呢？我们的展览突出了光谱学在解开这些天体化学反应，探测“空间分子”，观察星星和行星形成中的作用。通过触觉，醒目的演示，直观的海报和视频，我们使这个跨学科的科学向公众开放。我们将展示天体化学如何将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、伦敦大学学院、诺丁汉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。展览中所描述的科学是基于布朗、弗雷泽、麦克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提研究小组正在进行的天文学研究。这些研究的大部分目前由EPSRC资助。这一科学领域最适合于公众理解活动，因为在任何文化中，一个人没有仰望夜空并想知道它们的意义以及我们来自哪里都是不寻常的情况。也许这就是为什么公众如此重视天文学，并且知识渊博，能够接受与我们对宇宙的理解有关的先进概念。英国业余天文俱乐部的普及，天文学GCSE，A-Level和学位研究的普及，以及BBC和探索频道（任何）基于太空的节目的高收视率，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条独特的途径，让成年人，学童和学生参与跨学科工作的重要性和化学在星际介质中的作用。这显然是一个鼓舞人心的主题/方面的星星和行星形成出现在标准年级和更高的教学大纲在苏格兰和相当的学校资格在英格兰。因此，我们有信心，本次展览所描述的工作将向所有儿童和成人开放，扩大一般科学素养并支持终身学习。

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.