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Carbon and nitrogen isotopic anomalies in an
anhydrous interplanetary dust particle
Floss C., Stadermann F. J., Bradley J., Dai Z. R., Bajt
S., and Graham G. (2004) Science 303, 1355-1358.
doi:10.1126/science.1093283
ABSTRACT
Because hydrogen and nitrogen isotopic anomalies in
interplanetary dust particles have been associated with
carbonaceous material, the lack of similar anomalies in
carbon has been a major conundrum. We report here the
presence of a 13C depletion associated with a
15N enrichment in an anhydrous interplanetary
dust particle. Our observations suggest that the anomalies
are carried by heteroatomic organic compounds. Theoretical
models indicate that low-temperature formation of organic
compounds in cold interstellar molecular clouds can produce
carbon and nitrogen fractionations, but it remains to be
seen whether the specific effects observed here can be
reproduced.
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