Tag: Cosmic chemistry

Approximately 79% of all naturally occurring magnesium is the isotope Magnesium-24, a stable isotope forged in the heart of stars. The cosmic tale of where did magnesium come from is an epic journey of stellar birth, nuclear fusion, and explosive death that seeded the universe with this essential element.

Did you know that simple sugar molecules called glycolaldehyde have been discovered in gas clouds around star-forming regions deep in space? The query "how much sugar is in a galaxy?" therefore has two very different—and equally fascinating—answers, depending on whether you're talking about the famous chocolate bar or the cosmic nebula.