Astrochemistry Insights in Science Magazine, by Christine Joblin and José Cernicharo

Cone Nebula (NGC 2264) Credits: NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M.Clampin (STScI), G. Hartig (STScI), the ACS Science Team, and ESA.

Detecting the building blocks of aromatics” is the title of this “Insight” written by Christine Joblin and José Cernicharo (both NANOCOSMOS PIs together with J.A. Martín Gago) and talking about the history and importance of the work published by Brett A. McGuire et al. (“Detection of the aromatic molecule benzonitrile (c-C6H5CN) in the interstellar medium“) in the “Science Magazine” (12/01/2018).

This is the summary of the article from C. Joblin and J. Cernicharo:

“Interstellar clouds are sites of active organic chemistry. Many small, gasphase molecules are found in the dark parts of the clouds that are protected from ultraviolet (UV) photons, but these molecules photodissociate in the external layers of the cloud that are exposed to stellar radiation (see the photo). These irradiated regions are populated by large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with characteristic infrared (IR) emission features. These large aromatics are expected to form from benzene (C6H6), which is, however, difficult to detect because it does not have a permanent dipole moment and can only be detected via its IR absorption transitions against a strong background source (2). On page 202 of this issue, McGuire et al. (3) report the detection of benzonitrile (c-C6H5CN) with radio telescopes. Benzonitrile likely forms in the reaction of CN with benzene; from its observation, it is therefore possible to estimate the abundance of benzene itself”.

 

Christine Joblin in a Nanocosmos illustrated talk

Last Saturday, the 2nd edition of the “Illustrated talks” organized by ERCcOMICS took place at Jussieu Campus in Paris with the artist Lorenzo Palloni and the researcher Christine Joblin (one of our Principal Investigators) in the “Fête de la Science 2017” (Science Party). It was an amazing opportunity to share the astronomy and astrophysics behind the Nancosmos project, that has already a comic inspired in its science. This “Fête de la Science” is a celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals get involved, providing general public the opportunity to discover the wonders of science. “Illustrated talks” are talks where the artist illustrates the scientist live while talking about the project. Congratulations for this outreach initiative!

Watch the full illustrated talk (in french) by Christine Joblin (research director at CNRS Toulouse) & comics artist Lorenzo Palloni at the Fête de la Science in PARIS, Campus de Jussieu, on the 14th of October 2017.

Here, some pictures from the 2nd edition of the illustrated talks with the artist Lorenzo Palloni and the researchers Christine Joblin (ERC Nanocosmos).

Christine Joblin, one of Nanocosmos’ Principal Investigators, participates in an illustrated talk during the “Fête de la Science” last 14th of October in Paris.

“Estrella” (Star in Spanish) is the name of the comic inspired by Nanocosmos.

Christine Joblin during the illustrated talk in Paris.

Lorenzo Palloni is the artist that gave life to the comic inspired by Nanocosmos “Estrella” and draw the stories live during the illustrated talk.