Newly discovered diffuse interstellar bands support ideas of carbon-based organic 'carriers' in interstellar dust clouds?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - 17:30
in Astronomy & Space
The discovery of 13 diffuse interstellar bands with the longest wavelengths to date could someday solve a 90-year-old mystery. Astronomers have now discovered new bands using data collected by the Gemini North telescope of stars in the center of the Milky Way. The new findings support recent ideas about the presence of large, possibly carbon-based organic molecules -— “carriers” —- hidden in interstellar dust clouds.