Studying Comet Contents (broadcast Friday, September 18th, 2009)

A "keystone" cut of aerogel showing particle and track. NASA/JPL image.

We'll check in with researchers on the Stardust probe, which captured dust from comet Wild-2 in 2004. Recently, scientists reported that the samples of comet dust that were returned to Earth embedded in aerogel contained the amino acid glycine, with an isotopic signature that indicates it was not formed on Earth. We'll talk with one of the scientists about the analysis and other work on the Stardust probe.

Guests

Don Brownlee
Principal Investigator, NASA's Stardust Mission
Professor, Department of Astronomy
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Related Links

• Stardust mission

Segment produced by:Christopher Intagliata

Image: This composite image was taken by the navigation camera during the close approach phase of Stardust's Jan 2, 2004 flyby of comet Wild 2.
NASA/JPL image.

Stories for
Friday, September 18th, 2009

• How Clean is the Shower?
• Tiny T-Rex
• Late Blight Up Close
• The Smell of Death
• Studying Comet Contents
• Age of Wonder

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