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Buckyballs Detected In Space

Rhodin writes "Fullerenes, also known as buckminsterfullerenes or 'buckyballs,' were detected about 6,500 light years from Earth in the cosmic dust of Tc 1 (PDF; abstract), an object known as a planetary nebula. 'We found what are now the largest molecules known to exist in space,' said astronomer Jan Cami of the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif. 'We are particularly excited because they have unique properties that make them important players for all sorts of physical and chemical processes going on in space.'" (More, below.) These results hark directly back to the experiments that originally identified Buckminsterfullerene, which mimicked the outer atmospheric chemistry of red giant carbon stars. Harry Kroto, who jointly won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1996, is excited by the findings' clarity. 'The spectrum is incredibly convincing,' the Florida State University academic said. 'I thought I would never be as convinced as I am. The fact that the four lines are there, and C70 is there, is just unbelievable. It's a spectacular paper.'"

14 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cool by h4rm0ny · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently there are no lab conditions on earth that are not duplicated somewhere else in the universe

    Somewhere out there is an underfunded galaxy filled with old computers that I can't get permission to throw out?

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    Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
  2. Re:hope they won't find... by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least in space, nobody will be able to hear your vuvuzela.

  3. Think GeeK? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Doesn't thinkgeek sell these?

  4. What? No Spaceballs jokes or references? by erroneus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Am I really that old?! Oh well...

    May da schwartz be witcha.

  5. Re:No by macara · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Elders tell of a young ball much like you. He bounced three metres in the air. Then he bounced 1.8 metres in the air. Then he bounced four metres in the air. Do I make myself clear?

  6. Re:Cool by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Candle flame is loaded with Buckminsterfullerene. These molecules have been right under our noses for that long.

    Perhaps a more scientific method of detection than "sniffing fire" would have had better results earlier on.

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    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
  7. Re:hope they won't find... by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

    it's just the farting of the Time Lords

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    rewriting history since 2109
  8. Natural Buckyballs by Montrey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does this mean that there will be a new group of people calling for the use of "only all-natural, organic" buckyballs?

  9. Re:Cool by coffii · · Score: 2, Funny

    Candle flame is loaded with Buckminsterfullerene. These molecules have been right under our noses for that long.

    You're telling me there's a bunch of aliens out there with candles? Shit, break out the nukes.

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    Bitter and twisted, DON'T ever FORGET the TWISTED
  10. Deep space, the new frontier... by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...for patent attorneys! Now they can start arguing if alien prior art exists about methods for synthetizing fullerene, thus voiding several patents. A good excuse for skyrocketing their bills.

  11. Re:Cool by CarpetShark · · Score: 4, Funny

    Somewhere out there is an underfunded galaxy filled with old computers that I can't get permission to throw out?

    No, no, you have permission. Go ahead.

  12. Re:Cool by quantumghost · · Score: 4, Funny
    FLASH: Man sues Nature over patent infringement...

    Mr I. M. Atwit, lead council for Dewy, Suck'em, and Dry Corp headquartered in Topeka KS, was quoted as saying "Nature has finally overstepped her bounds by infringing on our copyright! We intend to prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law [of man]."

    Nature, unfortunately, could not be reached for comment.

    In unrelated news, NASA and several prominent astronomers today warned of an impending meteorite strike that was predicted to hit somewhere in the Mid-West of the US. The most like impact site was around Topeka, KS.

  13. Re:hope they won't find... by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

    I suggest anyone blowing a vuvuzela be placed in the vacuum of space so we don't have to hear it.

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  14. New discovery!!!!! Buckyballs are..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Buckyballs = Proto Proto Proto Planets