Cross-linked hetero aromatic polymers in interstellar dust

Wickramasinghe, N. C.; Wickramasinghe, D. T.; Hoyle, F.

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Cross-linked hetero aromatic polymers in interstellar dust

Date

2015-01-01

Authors

Wickramasinghe, N. C.

Wickramasinghe, D. T.

Hoyle, F.

Abstract

The discovery of cross-linked hetero-aromatic polymers in interstellar dust by instruments aboard the Stardust spacecraft would confirm the validity of the biological grain model that was suggested from spectroscopic studies over 20 years ago. Such structures could represent fragments of cell walls that survive 30 km/s impacts onto detector surfaces.