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The article offers information on the Cosmic Simulation Chamber (COSmIC) facility designed and constructed by scientists at the Ames Research Center of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that is capable of recreating dust grains similar to the grains that form in the outer layers of dying stars.

The article discusses research reported by astronomer Laurent Pagani and colleagues in the September 24, 2010 issue of "Science" on agglomerations of cosmic grains thought to represent the stellar cores.

The article reports on the findings of the Stardust comet sample return mission of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is cited that some of the grains brought back by Stardust from Comet 81P/Wild 2 in 2006 were formed in a very hot environment. A research team suggests that all the captured cometary grains formed near the Sun and got transported to the outer solar system created Comet Wild 2. Many of the dust particles captured by high-flying jets have the interstellar isotopic mixes that were in the Stardust samples.

The article discusses the results achieved from the Stardust spacecraft of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The spacecraft collected particles from Comet 81P/Wild 2. NASA astronomers found interstellar grains and larger particles made of complex materials. The principal investigator of the Stardust mission is Donald Brownlee. Theories of how the larger minerals came to be in the comet are discussed.

The article reports on a study by astrophysicist Jeffrey Linsky and colleagues, which found that more deuterium exist in space than predictions allow. The team noted that deuterium's spectral signal is weaker within clouds of interstellar dust than in relatively dust-free regions. They concluded that some deuterium must be binding chemically to interstellar dust grains in the frigid cold of deep space.

Reports on the discovery of space dust rich from grains that were created around the stars before the formation of the solar system. Detection of extrasolar grains found embedded in actual meteorites; Composition of the grains; Presence of interstellar matter in meteoric dust.

Examines cosmic rays from the solar system. Discovery of dust grains in the outer solar system as the source of cosmic rays that bombard Earth; Composition of the grains; Result of collisions in the Kuiper belt; What this discovery provides for the understanding of the solar system's formation.

Comments on an article about cosmic rays in the July to August 2002 issue of 'Mercury.' Statement concerning the significance of cosmic rays; Information on interstellar grains.

Suggests that an increase in the diversity of life on Earth coincided with an increase in cosmic debris which collided with Earth's surface. How studying the lunar surface shows traces of an increase in cosmic debris hits; Suggestion that the increased debris hits may have supplied organic compounds to Earth; Comments of scientist Richard A. Muller

Reports that a group of astronomers have confirmed that starlight scattering off dust grains in interstellar space accounts for most of the sky's diffuse brightness at far-ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths by showing that individual dust clouds observed in the visible and infrared also appear bright in the far-UV. Discovery and imaging of the first cirrus cloud at far-UV wavelengths; Equipment used in the research.

Reports on the discovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) believed to have originated in interstellar space. Probe of carbon-rich meteorites which turned up organic matter; Complexities of PAHs because they are based on interconnected rings of carbon atoms; Analysis of soot grains extracted from meteorites.

Reports on findings on the origin of solar system. Chemical and thermal processes which changed the mineralogy of the cloud of interstellar gas and dust believed to have evolved as the solar system; Sources of interstellar grains.

Determines the sizes, density and compositions of cosmic dust grains. Percentage of carbon in the interstellar medium of dust grains; Composition of the interstellar gas; Development of mathematical schemes for the distribution of dust gases.

Reports on the identification of interstellar grains, thought to be the stuff from which planets and new stars are formed. Rare gas element whose trace was found in samples from carbon-rich Murchison meteorite.