In a first, astronomers detect dry ice hiding in the dusty torus of the Butterfly Nebula
SMRTR summary
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) within the dusty torus of the Butterfly Nebula, marking the first detection of such ice in any planetary nebula. This surprising finding challenges expectations since the intense radiation from dying stars should destroy fragile molecules, suggesting protective dust allows complex chemistry to survive in stellar graveyards.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Interesting Engineering.
Read the original article