From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Jul 29 2005 - 02:10:11 UTC
>From: "Robert J. Bradbury" <bradbury_at_aeiveos.com>
>To: LARRY KLAES <ljk4_at_msn.com>
>CC: public_at_setileague.org, <bioastro_at_setileague.org>
>Subject: Re: FW: Spitzer Finds Life Components in Young Universe
>Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:07:06 -0700 (PDT)
>
>
>Larry wrote:
>
> > >Subject: Spitzer Finds Life Components in Young Universe
>
>This isn't a surprise...
>
> > >Using Spitzer, scientists have detected organic molecules in galaxies
>when
> > >our universe was one-fourth of its current age of about 14 billion
>years.
> > >These large molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are
>comprised
> > >of carbon and hydrogen. [snip]
>
>Duh... It seems rather self-evident for anyone who understands
>nucleosynthesis,
>esp. the carbon cycle [1,2], that you would have a *lot* of carbon & oxygen
>to
>form molecules with. Since hydrogen is the most abundant element, you are
>going to get some mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrocarbons
>as the top molecules in the universe. Followed to a lesser extent by CO
>and CO2.
>
>Since the more massive stars go through burn through their fuel in a few
>million to a few hundred million years it seems obvious that one should
>have significant amounts of these molecules even in the early universe.
>
>Robert
>
>1. Carbon Cycle of Nuclear Fusion
> http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/carbcyc.html
>2. After hydrogen, the most abundant elements in the sun are He, O,
> C, Ne, N, Mg, Si & Fe (in that order). Since He & Ne don't form
> molecules the most abundant molecules should be some combination
> of these elements.
>
>
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