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Molecules Between the Stars

Complex Organics in Interstellar Space

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Life on Earth and other Planetary Bodies

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 24))

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Abstract

The interstellar medium (ISM) is a complex physical and chemical environment which gives rise to a variety of spectral features. This chapter gives a brief overview on the diversity of chemical species that are observed in diffuse interstellar clouds, tenuous entities of gas, and dust scattered throughout the galaxy and beyond. The growing evidence for the existence of large organic, prebiotic molecules in these astrophysical environments is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Astronomy, Ku Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Nick Cox

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Correspondence to Nick Cox .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Geophysik, Astrophysik und Meteorologie, Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, Graz, 8010, Austria

    Arnold Hanslmeier

  2. , Physical Geology and Global Cycles, Institute of Applied Geosciences (IAG), Schnittspahnstraße 9, Darmstadt, 64287, Germany

    Stephan Kempe

  3. University of Jerusalem, Mevo Hadas 20, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Cox, N. (2012). Molecules Between the Stars. In: Hanslmeier, A., Kempe, S., Seckbach, J. (eds) Life on Earth and other Planetary Bodies. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 24. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4966-5_6

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