Oxygen finally spotted in space

Gerald · 08-02-11, 07:54 PM

One of astronomy's longest-running "missing persons" investigations has concluded: astronomers have found molecular oxygen in space.

While single atoms of oxygen have been found alone or incorporated into other molecules, the oxygen molecule - the one we breathe - had never been seen.

The Herschel space telescope spotted the molecules in a star-forming region in the constellation of Orion.

The find will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the cosmos, after hydrogen and helium. Its molecular form, with two atoms joined by a double bond, makes life on Earth possible - but this form had never definitively been seen in space.

A 2007 effort from the Swedish Odin telescope, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, claimed a discovery of oxygen in a nearby star-forming region, but the discovery could not be independently confirmed.

One possible location for the missing oxygen is locked onto dust grains and incorporated into water ice.

The team chose a star-forming region in the constellation Orion, believing that oxygen would be "baked off" from the ice and dust in a warmer, more turbulent part of space.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14372708

Note: 2 August 2011 Last updated at 14:53 GMT

Betonov · 08-03-11, 02:06 AM

Hoorah, now we can finnaly breathe in space

Feuer Frei! · 08-03-11, 02:47 AM

Well, they should funnel some of that oxygen down here to Earth!
It seems that there are a few people's brains short of oxygen. And you know what that means!
Person exhibits signs of stupidity!

Betonov · 08-03-11, 05:50 AM

I'z no stupid, I'z kno' I cant's breath in space. I can choke on one of those meteorite things

Torplexed · 08-03-11, 06:02 AM

If you can draw breath, they can hear you scream. Not that there was any lack of screaming at the time.

kiwi_2005 · 08-03-11, 06:17 AM

That's great news but pointless. We never going to reach the nearest star outside our system until we find a shortcut like a stargate

or wormhole even then we would have to figure out a way how to survive the wormhole travel. Traveling at the speed of light is out of the question. A wormhole is more realistic. I reckon even if Aliens exist they have found a wormhole close to earth and know how to travel through it.

08-02-11, 07:54 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Oxygen finally spotted in space One of astronomy's longest-running "missing persons" investigations has concluded: astronomers have found molecular oxygen in space. While single atoms of oxygen have been found alone or incorporated into other molecules, the oxygen molecule - the one we breathe - had never been seen. The Herschel space telescope spotted the molecules in a star-forming region in the constellation of Orion. The find will be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the cosmos, after hydrogen and helium. Its molecular form, with two atoms joined by a double bond, makes life on Earth possible - but this form had never definitively been seen in space. A 2007 effort from the Swedish Odin telescope, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, claimed a discovery of oxygen in a nearby star-forming region, but the discovery could not be independently confirmed. One possible location for the missing oxygen is locked onto dust grains and incorporated into water ice. The team chose a star-forming region in the constellation Orion, believing that oxygen would be "baked off" from the ice and dust in a warmer, more turbulent part of space. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14372708 Note: 2 August 2011 Last updated at 14:53 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-03-11, 02:47 AM	#3
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Well, they should funnel some of that oxygen down here to Earth! It seems that there are a few people's brains short of oxygen. And you know what that means! Person exhibits signs of stupidity! __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

08-03-11, 06:17 AM	#6
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	That's great news but pointless. We never going to reach the nearest star outside our system until we find a shortcut like a stargate or wormhole even then we would have to figure out a way how to survive the wormhole travel. Traveling at the speed of light is out of the question. A wormhole is more realistic. I reckon even if Aliens exist they have found a wormhole close to earth and know how to travel through it. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

08-03-11, 02:06 AM	#2
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Hoorah, now we can finnaly breathe in space

08-03-11, 05:50 AM	#4
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I'z no stupid, I'z kno' I cant's breath in space. I can choke on one of those meteorite things

08-03-11, 06:02 AM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	If you can draw breath, they can hear you scream. Not that there was any lack of screaming at the time.