SMRTR Science & EngineeringFeb 3, 2026Nautilus

Grad Student Homebrews Cosmic Dust in the Lab

SMRTR summary

University of Sydney Ph.D. candidate Linda Losurdo successfully recreated cosmic dust in her laboratory by simulating space conditions with a near-vacuum chamber, adding gases like carbon dioxide and acetylene, then applying 10,000 volts to mimic supernova plasma. This breakthrough allows scientists to study interstellar matter without waiting for asteroids to reach Earth, potentially building a database of infrared signatures to help astronomers better understand how life evolved.

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