Paul B Rimmer
@rimmerlab.bsky.social
Husband. Father. Catholic. Planetary Astrochemist. Assistant Professor of Experimental Astrophysics at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
With Martin Ferus & led by Antonín Knížek, we modeled Jupiter’s atmosphere. Most of the nitrogen freezes out as NH3/NH4SH, but some remains as N2, and can become HCN. How much HCN comes from impacts vs. quenched deep N2? For some neat new predictions, read here: arxiv.org/abs/2509.04034
A Full-Atmosphere Model of Jupiter
This paper presents a combined 1D photochemical-thermochemical kinetics model of Jupiter's deeper atmosphere, troposphere and stratosphere. The model covers atmospheric pressure range from $1.1 \times...
arxiv.org
September 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
With Martin Ferus & led by Antonín Knížek, we modeled Jupiter’s atmosphere. Most of the nitrogen freezes out as NH3/NH4SH, but some remains as N2, and can become HCN. How much HCN comes from impacts vs. quenched deep N2? For some neat new predictions, read here: arxiv.org/abs/2509.04034
Maja Radecka and I studied nitrogen tracers. In an H2-rich air, N2 photochemistry yields HCN, HC3N & NH3, almost within JWST reach. CO2 chemistry rules out a mini-Neptune.
K2-18b is likely an ocean world, but what kind? Water or magma?
REad the paper here: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.03455
K2-18b is likely an ocean world, but what kind? Water or magma?
REad the paper here: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.03455
September 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Maja Radecka and I studied nitrogen tracers. In an H2-rich air, N2 photochemistry yields HCN, HC3N & NH3, almost within JWST reach. CO2 chemistry rules out a mini-Neptune.
K2-18b is likely an ocean world, but what kind? Water or magma?
REad the paper here: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.03455
K2-18b is likely an ocean world, but what kind? Water or magma?
REad the paper here: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.03455
After reading statements and complaints about the atmosphere of K2-18b, habitability, oceans, biosignatures, I feel I have to comment. (1/x)
September 27, 2023 at 4:10 PM
After reading statements and complaints about the atmosphere of K2-18b, habitability, oceans, biosignatures, I feel I have to comment. (1/x)
"In the field of prebiotic chemistry, taking voices of confidence seriously can be important. Equally so is to judge them with a measure of sustained skepticism. The same holds true for fundamental criticism of prebiotic chemistry by prophets of gloom." -Albert Eschenmoser
September 17, 2023 at 11:58 PM
"In the field of prebiotic chemistry, taking voices of confidence seriously can be important. Equally so is to judge them with a measure of sustained skepticism. The same holds true for fundamental criticism of prebiotic chemistry by prophets of gloom." -Albert Eschenmoser
If you want to hear some of my random (and not-so-random) thoughts about origins of life, here's a great interview with Furkan Ozturk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVp6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVp6...
August 28, 2023 at 8:08 PM
If you want to hear some of my random (and not-so-random) thoughts about origins of life, here's a great interview with Furkan Ozturk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVp6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVp6...
Reposted by Paul B Rimmer
Many congratulations to India for successfully landing Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon!
Exploration of the south pole is crucial for eventual human exploration, given the abundant water ice and crater rims with near constant illumination.
Exploration of the south pole is crucial for eventual human exploration, given the abundant water ice and crater rims with near constant illumination.
August 23, 2023 at 4:25 PM
Many congratulations to India for successfully landing Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon!
Exploration of the south pole is crucial for eventual human exploration, given the abundant water ice and crater rims with near constant illumination.
Exploration of the south pole is crucial for eventual human exploration, given the abundant water ice and crater rims with near constant illumination.
WTF is FO2!?! If you want to know, go read this paper! Even if you already know, read this paper anyway, because the work is amazing.
arxiv.org/abs/2308.09505
arxiv.org/abs/2308.09505
August 23, 2023 at 3:32 PM
WTF is FO2!?! If you want to know, go read this paper! Even if you already know, read this paper anyway, because the work is amazing.
arxiv.org/abs/2308.09505
arxiv.org/abs/2308.09505
Origins Paper: "The Future of Origin of Life Research" by Martina Preiner et al. www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10...
One of the most important concept papers in origins research. Provides a constructive review of the major camps in origins research, and points out ways these camps can be united.
One of the most important concept papers in origins research. Provides a constructive review of the major camps in origins research, and points out ways these camps can be united.
The Future of Origin of Life Research: Bridging Decades-Old Divisions
Research on the origin of life is highly heterogeneous. After a peculiar historical development, it still includes strongly opposed views which potentially hinder progress. In the 1st Interdisciplinar...
www.mdpi.com
August 21, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Origins Paper: "The Future of Origin of Life Research" by Martina Preiner et al. www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10...
One of the most important concept papers in origins research. Provides a constructive review of the major camps in origins research, and points out ways these camps can be united.
One of the most important concept papers in origins research. Provides a constructive review of the major camps in origins research, and points out ways these camps can be united.
Reposted by Paul B Rimmer
Like astronomy? You should check out the astronomy feed! 🔭
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To help the feed grow...
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♥️ Like the feed
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August 8, 2023 at 5:11 PM
Like astronomy? You should check out the astronomy feed! 🔭
To help the feed grow...
🔄 Reskeet this post
♥️ Like the feed
🔭 Sign up to post in it if you're an astronomer (see thread)
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jcoy7v3a2t4rcfdh6i4kza25/feed/astro
To help the feed grow...
🔄 Reskeet this post
♥️ Like the feed
🔭 Sign up to post in it if you're an astronomer (see thread)
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jcoy7v3a2t4rcfdh6i4kza25/feed/astro
Just submitted a grant proposal. Now listening to ABBA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0). I hope they take a chance on me.
ABBA - Take A Chance On Me (Official Music Video)
REMASTERED IN HD! UP TO 4K!!Listen to the new album: https://abba.lnk.to/VoyageAlbumListen to more music by ABBA: https://abba.lnk.to/musicIDFollow ABBA:Face...
www.youtube.com
August 19, 2023 at 12:22 PM
Just submitted a grant proposal. Now listening to ABBA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0). I hope they take a chance on me.
I plan to be more active on this BlueSky than I was on the dying blue bird. I think I'll make an Origins of Life post a couple times a week, highlighting some paper in the field that catches my eye. We'll see how this goes.
August 18, 2023 at 8:49 AM
I plan to be more active on this BlueSky than I was on the dying blue bird. I think I'll make an Origins of Life post a couple times a week, highlighting some paper in the field that catches my eye. We'll see how this goes.
Reposted by Paul B Rimmer
