Buckminsterfullerenes Illuminate Cosmic Chemistry
New infrared data from the James Webb Space Telescope show buckyballs in the planetary nebula Tc1, offering fresh clues about star death, carbon chemistry and the origins of life.
May 29, 2026
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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