Lab-Created Cosmic Dust Reveals Life’s Origins | Science News

Scientists have recreated cosmic dust in the lab using nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and acetylene under intense electrical charges, producing carbon-rich particles that mirror space’s organic material. These lab-made samples contain key life-building elements—carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen—and emit infrared light that matches real cosmic dust, allowing researchers to study chemical reactions as they happen. This breakthrough lets scientists simulate extreme space environments and build a database of “fingerprints” to trace where cosmic dust forms, from stellar envelopes to supernova remnants. The work sheds light on how life’s ingredients may have traveled to Earth and offers a powerful tool to decode the ancient chemistry that could have seeded life. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b36e551a99dd233e