O Telescópio Espacial Spitzer da NASA identificou a marca de flocos de carbono planos, chamados grafenos, no espaço. Se confirmada, esta será a primeira detecção cósmica do material - que é disposto como arame em folhas planas com a espessura de um átomo.
O grafeno foi sintetizado em laboratório pela primiera vez em 2004, e pesquisas subsequentes sobre suas propriedades singulares renderam o Prêmio Nobel em 2010. É tão forte quanto fino, e conduz electricidade como o cobre. Há quem o classifique como o "material do futuro", com aplicações em computadores, telas e dispositivos eléctricos, paineis solares e outras coisas.
O grafeno no espaço não resultará em computadores ultrafinos, mas pesquisadores estão interessados em aprender mais sobre como ele é criado. Entender as reações químicas que envolvem o carbono no espaço é algo que pode trazer pistas sobre como nós mesmos, baseados em carbono, como outras formas de vida, se desenvolveram.
O Spitzer identifiicou sinais de grafeno em duas pequenas galáxias fora da nossa, as conhecidas Nuvens de Magalhães, em especial no material vertido por estrelas morrendo, chamadas nebulosas planetárias. O telescópio de sensoriamento infravermelho também localizou uma molécula relacionada, chamada C70, na mesma região - realizando a primeira detecção deste químico fora de nossa galáxia.
O C70 e o grafeno pertencem à família dos fulerenos, que inclui as moléculas chamadas "buckyballs," ou C60. Essas esferas de carbono contêm 60 átomos de carbono dispostos como uma bola de futebol, e receberam esse nome por sua semelhança com os domos arquitetônicos de Buckminister Fuller.
As moléculas de C70 contêm 70 átomos de carbono e são mais largas na forma, assim como uma bola de rugby.
Os fulerenos foram encontrados em meteoritos levando gases extraterrestres, e água foi recentemente encapsulada em buckybolas por meio de novas técnicas de laboratório. Estas descobertas sugerem que fulerenos podem ter auxiliado o transporte de materiais do espaço à Terra há muito tempo, possivelmente ajudando a dar o empurrão inicial à criação de vida.
O Spitzer definitivamente detectou ambos, buckybolas e C70 no espaço pela primeira vez em julho de 2010. Mais tarde descobriu as buckybolas - o equivalente em massa a 15 luas cheias - na Pequena Nuvem de Magalhães. Esses últimos resultados demonstraram que, ao contrário do que antes se acreditava, fulerenos e outras moléculas complexas poderiam se formar em ambientes ricos em hidrogênio.
Segundo astrônomos, o grafeno, as buckybolas e o C70 poderiam ter se formado quando ondas de choque geradas por estrelas morrendo quebrassem grãos de carbono contendo hidrogênio.
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted the signature of flat carbon flakes, called graphene, in space. If confirmed, this would be the first-ever cosmic detection of the material - which is arranged like chicken wire in flat sheets that are one atom thick.
Graphene was first synthesized in a lab in 2004, and subsequent research on its unique properties garnered the Nobel Prize in 2010. It's as strong as it is thin, and conducts electricity as well as copper. Some think it's the "material of the future," with applications in computers, screens on electrical devices, solar panels and more.
Graphene in space isn't going to result in any super-fast computers, but researchers are interested in learning more about how it is created. Understanding chemical reactions involving carbon in space may hold clues to how our own carbon-based selves and other life on Earth developed.
Spitzer identified signs of the graphene in two small galaxies outside of our own, called the Magellanic Clouds, specifically in the material shed by dying stars, called planetary nebulae. The infrared-sensing telescope also spotted a related molecule, called C70, in the same region - marking the first detection of this chemical outside our galaxy.
C70 and graphene belong to the fullerene family, which includes molecules called "buckyballs," or C60. These carbon spheres contain 60 carbon atoms arranged like a soccer ball, and were named after their resemblance to the architectural domes of Buckminister Fuller.
C70 molecules contain 70 carbon atoms and are longer in shape, more like a rugby ball.
Fullerenes have been found in meteorites carrying extraterrestrial gases, and water has been very recently encapsulated in buckyballs by using new laboratory techniques. These findings suggest fullerenes may have helped transport materials from space to Earth long ago, possibly helping to kick-start life.
Spitzer definitively detected both buckyballs and C70 in space for the first time in July 2010
According to astronomers, the graphene, buckyballs and C70 might be forming when shock waves generated by dying stars break apart hydrogen-containing carbon grains.. It later spotted buckyballs - equivalent in mass to 15 full moons - in the Small Magellanic Cloud. These latter results demonstrated that, contrary to what was previously believed, fullerenes and other complex molecules could form in hydrogen-rich environments.
Graphene was first synthesized in a lab in 2004, and subsequent research on its unique properties garnered the Nobel Prize in 2010. It's as strong as it is thin, and conducts electricity as well as copper. Some think it's the "material of the future," with applications in computers, screens on electrical devices, solar panels and more.
Graphene in space isn't going to result in any super-fast computers, but researchers are interested in learning more about how it is created. Understanding chemical reactions involving carbon in space may hold clues to how our own carbon-based selves and other life on Earth developed.
Spitzer identified signs of the graphene in two small galaxies outside of our own, called the Magellanic Clouds, specifically in the material shed by dying stars, called planetary nebulae. The infrared-sensing telescope also spotted a related molecule, called C70, in the same region - marking the first detection of this chemical outside our galaxy.
C70 and graphene belong to the fullerene family, which includes molecules called "buckyballs," or C60. These carbon spheres contain 60 carbon atoms arranged like a soccer ball, and were named after their resemblance to the architectural domes of Buckminister Fuller.
C70 molecules contain 70 carbon atoms and are longer in shape, more like a rugby ball.
Fullerenes have been found in meteorites carrying extraterrestrial gases, and water has been very recently encapsulated in buckyballs by using new laboratory techniques. These findings suggest fullerenes may have helped transport materials from space to Earth long ago, possibly helping to kick-start life.
Spitzer definitively detected both buckyballs and C70 in space for the first time in July 2010
According to astronomers, the graphene, buckyballs and C70 might be forming when shock waves generated by dying stars break apart hydrogen-containing carbon grains.. It later spotted buckyballs - equivalent in mass to 15 full moons - in the Small Magellanic Cloud. These latter results demonstrated that, contrary to what was previously believed, fullerenes and other complex molecules could form in hydrogen-rich environments.
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