Researchers used scanning transmission x-ray microscopy to analyze Arctic aerosols, which strongly influence cloud formation and overall climate. Understanding what these particles are and how they change as they travel could help improve climate models and yield more accurate predictions of the changing Arctic environment’s global impact. Read more »
Ancient Asteroid Provides Evidence of Amino Acid Precursors
Researchers identified nitrogen-rich compounds in samples from the asteroid Bennu, returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. The results support the idea that asteroids like Bennu may have delivered the essential chemical building blocks of life to Earth in the distant past. Read more »
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Vertical gradient in atmospheric particle phase state: a case study over the alaskan arctic oil fields
Integrating chemical composition and phase state measurements demonstrated that carbonaceous-rich and organic-dominated particles exhibited higher viscosities, while inorganic-rich particles displayed lower viscosities. This finding establishes an association between composition and phase state, offering critical insights into the vertical stratification of Arctic particles. Read more »
Bennu’s Ancient Brine Sheds Light on Recipe for Life
Researchers traced the evolution of minerals (“salts”) in an ancient brine, as recorded in samples from the asteroid Bennu, returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. The results support the idea that asteroids like Bennu may have delivered water and essential chemical building blocks of life to Earth in the distant past. Read more »
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Berkeley Lab Helps Explore Mysteries of Asteroid Bennu
The Advanced Light Source and Molecular Foundry provided powerful tools to study asteroid samples returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid Bennu. Researchers found a telltale set of salts formed by evaporation that illuminate Bennu’s watery past. Read more »
Electron microscopy observations of the diversity of Ryugu organic matter and its relationship to minerals at the micro- to nano-scale
The work reported here addresses the question of how the organic matter (OM) in the Hayabusa2 samples compares and contrasts with OM from primitive carbonaceous chondrites, as observed primarily by transmission electron microscopy in concert with other microanalytical techniques. Read more »
Chemical Insights into the Molecular Composition of Organic Aerosols in the Urban Region of Houston, Texas
This study illustrates the molecular composition of organic aerosols collected in the Houston, Texas, region using direct sampling interfaced with high-resolution mass spectrometry. This study highlights the episodic prevalence and day/nighttime distribution of organosulfates and organonitrates enriched species. Read more »
Case Study of Aerosol Particles Influenced by Wildfire
Researchers studied atmospheric aerosols influenced by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. They examined the connection between particle size, chemical composition, and phase state, in particles collected during the day and at night. The information is important for modeling the effects of wildfire smoke on atmospheric properties. Read more »
How Processing Affects Structure in Composite Nanotube Yarns
Using the ALS, researchers found quantitative correlations between processing parameters and the structure of ultrafine, polymer-reinforced carbon-nanotube fibers. The work will facilitate the production of high-strength materials, including those needed for positioning target capsules for fusion research at the National Ignition Facility. Read more »
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Optical Properties of Individual Tar Balls in the Free Troposphere
Tar balls are found in biomass-burning smoke, and their sunlight-absorption properties are highly uncertain. This study investigates the optical properties of individual tar balls in the free troposphere to better understand their influence on climate. Read more »
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