I find the following excerpt of information more interesting than the actual discovery. We’ve known about DIBs since 1922, when they were discovered by a chick.
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Each element or compound has a unique absorption pattern that acts as a fingerprint allowing it to be identified. However, some absorption patterns from the ISM cover a broader range of colors, which appear different from any known atom or molecule on Earth. These absorption patterns are called Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs). Their identity has remained a mystery ever since they were discovered by Mary Lea Heger, who published observations of the first two DIBs in 1922.
A DIB can be assigned by finding a precise match with the absorption fingerprint of a substance in the laboratory. However, there are millions of different molecular structures to try, so it would take many lifetimes to test them all.
“Today, more than 400 DIBs are known, but (apart from the few newly attributed to C60+), none has been conclusively identified,” said Cordiner. “Together, the appearance of the DIBs indicate the presence of a large amount of carbon-rich molecules in space, some of which may eventually participate in the chemistry that gives rise to life. However, the composition and characteristics of this material will remain unknown until the remaining DIBs are assigned.”
Scientists using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have confirmed the presence of electrically-charged molecules in space shaped like soccer balls, shedding light on the mysterious contents of the interstellar medium (ISM) - the gas and dust that fills interstellar space.
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For the past several years we should have launched new and improved Hubble class space telescopes rather than throwing a fortune at the severely delayed James Webb space telescope.
A new telescope launched on an expendable rocket would have cost less than a Space Shuttle servicing mission.
They're not shaped like baseballs or basketballs?
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
Fascinating.
C60 is also known to double the lifetimes of lab test animals.
Free carbon floating around in the nothingness?
Who’d a thunk it !!
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!
Any of them named Wilson?
Dang! Does this mean that space, also, is overrun by millions of illegal aliens?
And all the world is football-shaped
It’s just for me to kick in Space
And I can see hear smell touch taste
And I’ve got 1 2 3 4 5.......senses working overtime