astrochemistry

"This finding contributes to one of the long-standing questions in astrochemistry," said team leader Will Rocha of Leiden University in the Netherlands.

By advancing our understanding of ions in the gas phase, this research yields fresh perspectives across diverse fields, including the mechanisms of chemical reactions, alterations in material properties, and the realm of astrochemistry.

Dr. HEO Jun, the primary author, emphasized, "This discovery represents a pivotal advancement in our fundamental comprehension of ion chemistry, poised to profoundly influence the design of diverse chemical reactions and future exploration in astrochemistry."

Ewine van Dishoeck, winner of the astrophysics category, works in astrochemistry at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where she has made her mark “elucidating the life cycle of interstellar clouds and the formation of stars and planets”, according to the prize citation.

Jason Dworkin, chief of astrochemistry at Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center, says the research bolsters the findings by his team from the Stardust probe.