Buckminsterfullerenes Glow in a Distant Nebula, Revealed by JWST
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have identified buckminsterfullerenes — carbon molecules shaped like footballs — within the planetary nebula TC‑1, a relic of a star similar to our Sun. The discovery expands our understanding of space‑based chemistry and hints at pathways that could have contributed to the emergence of life.
May 13, 2026