molecules

Rare form of quantum matter first created with molecules

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Scientists have produced a rare form of quantum matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), which uses molecules instead of atoms. These BECs consist of cooled sodium-cesium molecules and are as cold as five nanoKelvin (approximately -459.66 °F). They remain stable for as long as two seconds. “These molecular BECs open up new areas of … Read more

Webb finds abundance of carbon molecules around young star

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An international team of astronomers has used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study the disk of gas and dust surrounding a young, very low-mass star. The results reveal the largest number of carbon-containing molecules yet seen in such a disk. These findings have implications for the potential composition of any planets that could form … Read more