Stars R Us: the cosmic chemistry connection

我们都是由明星组成的！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，然后被吹到太空中。在星际区域，气体和尘埃之间的化学反应将元素转化为越来越复杂的分子；到目前为止，在太空中已经发现了150多个。这些分子大锅随后形成恒星托儿所，新的恒星和行星由此形成。天文学家并没有忽视分子作为恒星形成和生命先驱的重要性。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，以及它们在恒星形成中扮演的关键角色。但是，我们如何才能探测到距离地球几光年的化学反应呢？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”以及观察恒星和行星形成方面的作用。通过触觉、醒目的演示、直观的海报和视频，我们让这门跨学科的科学向公众开放。我们将展示天体化学如何将从最新的望远镜收集的线索与复杂的实验室实验和计算机模拟相结合，以具体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。展览中描述的科学是基于Brown、Fraser、McCoustra和Mason研究小组目前正在进行的天体化学/天体物理研究，以及Viti研究小组正在进行的天文学研究。这项研究的大部分目前是由EPSRC资助的。这一科学领域最适合公众理解活动，因为在任何文化中，一个人没有看过夜空并对它们的意义和我们来自哪里感到惊讶，这是一种不寻常的情况。也许这就是为什么公众如此推崇天文学，并有足够的知识来接受与我们对宇宙的理解有关的高级概念。英国业余天文学俱乐部的受欢迎程度，天文学普通中等教育证书、A-Level和学位学习的受欢迎程度，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。通过将天文学与化学相结合，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、学童和学生了解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学科/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，在英格兰同等的学校资格。因此，我们相信，这次展览将描述的工作将对所有儿童和成年人开放，扩大一般科学素养，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.