36: Scopes On A Plane!
from syzygy Hosted by Chris Stewart
Help us make Syzygy even better! Tell your friends and give us a review, or show your support on Patreon: patreon.com/syzygypod Syzygy is produced by Chris Stewart and co-hosted by Dr Emily Brunsden from the Department of Physics at the University of York. On the web: syzygy.fm | Twitter: @syzygypod Things we talk about in this episode: NASA announces the Helium Hydride discovery The original Nature paper NGC 7027, the Gummy Bear Nebula SOFIA, the scope on a plane that tweets Adaptive Optics & Active Optics Planetary Nebulae
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What this episode covers
Not long after the big bang started to fade, and the glowing-hot early universe cooled down a bit, things started to clump together. Not planets, stars and galaxies — smaller, much smaller. First, atomic nuclei: Hydrogen, Helium. Then they started to gather electrons to make ions and, eventually, neutral atoms. And, finally, the first molecule was formed: HeH+, Helium Hydride — a Helium atom with a Hydrogen ion sticking off one side. Or at least, that's what astronomers think happened, because no one has ever seen HeH+ anywhere in the universe, outside the chemistry lab. Until now, that is. Astronomers used an infra-red telescope on an aeroplane (yep, on a PLANE!) to finally spot the tricksy molecule in a nearby planetary nebula. And turns out, Emily has been on that telescope-plane, and has photos to prove it!
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