NASA Telescope Finds Elusive Buckyballs in Space for First Time

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Alan Buis 818-354-0474/ Whitney Clavin 818-354-4673
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov / Whitney.Clavin@jpl.nasa.gov

J.D. Harrington 202-358-5241
NASA Headquarters, Washington
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

NEWS RELEASE: 2010-243 July 22, 2010
NASA TELESCOPE FINDS ELUSIVE BUCKYBALLS IN SPACE FOR FIRST TIME

The full version of this story with accompanying images is at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-243&cid=release_2010-243

PASADENA, Calif. – Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have discovered carbon
molecules, known as "buckyballs," in space for the first time. Buckyballs are soccer-ball-shaped
molecules that were first observed in a laboratory 25 years ago.

They are named for their resemblance to architect Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, which have
interlocking circles on the surface of a partial sphere. Buckyballs were thought to float around in
space, but had escaped detection until now.

"We found what are now the largest molecules known to exist in space," said astronomer Jan Cami of
the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif. "We are
particularly excited because they have unique properties that make them important players for all sorts
of physical and chemical processes going on in space." Cami has authored a paper about the discovery
that will appear online Thursday in the journal Science.

Buckyballs are made of 60 carbon atoms arranged in three-dimensional, spherical structures. Their
alternating patterns of hexagons and pentagons match a typical black-and-white soccer ball. The
research team also found the more elongated relative of buckyballs, known as C70, for the first time
in space. These molecules consist of 70 carbon atoms and are shaped more like an oval rugby ball.
Both types of molecules belong to a class known officially as buckminsterfullerenes, or fullerenes.

The Cami team unexpectedly found the carbon balls in a planetary nebula named Tc 1. Planetary
nebulas are the remains of stars, like the sun, that shed their outer layers of gas and dust as they age.
A compact, hot star, or white dwarf, at the center of the nebula illuminates and heats these clouds of
material that has been shed.

The buckyballs were found in these clouds, perhaps reflecting a short stage in the star's life, when it
sloughs off a puff of material rich in carbon. The astronomers used Spitzer's spectroscopy instrument
to analyze infrared light from the planetary nebula and see the spectral signatures of the buckyballs.
These molecules are approximately room temperature -- the ideal temperature to give off distinct
patterns of infrared light that Spitzer can detect. According to Cami, Spitzer looked at the right place
at the right time. A century from now, the buckyballs might be too cool to be detected.

The data from Spitzer were compared with data from laboratory measurements of the same molecules
and showed a perfect match.

"We did not plan for this discovery," Cami said. "But when we saw these whopping spectral
signatures, we knew immediately that we were looking at one of the most sought-after molecules."

In 1970, Japanese professor Eiji Osawa predicted the existence of buckyballs, but they were not
observed until lab experiments in 1985. Researchers simulated conditions in the atmospheres of aging,
carbon-rich giant stars, in which chains of carbon had been detected. Surprisingly, these experiments
resulted in the formation of large quantities of buckminsterfullerenes. The molecules have since been
found on Earth in candle soot, layers of rock and meteorites.

The study of fullerenes and their relatives has grown into a busy field of research because of the
molecules' unique strength and exceptional chemical and physical properties. Among the potential
applications are armor, drug delivery and superconducting technologies.

Sir Harry Kroto, who shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in chemistry with Bob Curl and Rick Smalley for
the discovery of buckyballs, said, "This most exciting breakthrough provides convincing evidence that
the buckyball has, as I long suspected, existed since time immemorial in the dark recesses of our
galaxy."

Previous searches for buckyballs in space, in particular around carbon-rich stars, proved unsuccessful.
A promising case for their presence in the tenuous clouds between the stars was presented 15 years
ago, using observations at optical wavelengths. That finding is awaiting confirmation from laboratory
data. More recently, another Spitzer team reported evidence for buckyballs in a different type of
object, but the spectral signatures they observed were partly contaminated by other chemical
substances.

For more information about Spitzer, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spitzer .

JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

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