Earth's water has a mysterious past stretching back to the primordial clouds of gas that birthed the Sun and other stars. By using telescopes and computer
simulations to study such star nurseries, researchers can better understand the cosmic chemistry that has influenced the distribution of water in star systems across the Universe.
Much water takes the form of the familiar chemical formula H2O with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. But some water also takes the form of the less familiar "heavy water," known as deuterated water with the chemical formula HDO. That ratio of H2O to HDO represents a unique signature that can reveal the history of water within star nurseries, the clouds of gas that eventually spawn star systems and their respective planets.
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