Nitrogen Gas Fluoresces Blue (IMAGE) University of Arizona Caption In an experiment to simulate what happens when sunlight hits Titan's atmosphere, University of Arizona researchers put nitrogen and methane gas into a stainless steel cylinder and zapped it with high-energy UV light. The nitrogen molecules emit blue light when zapped by the UV light. The white in the picture surrounds the pinhole opening that is the source of the UV beam. The experiment was conducted at the Advanced Light Source facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif. Credit Hiroshi Imanaka, University of Arizona. Usage Restrictions The photo Nitrogen Gas Fluoresces Blue may only be used to illustrate a story about the research described in the accompanying news release, Zapping Titan-Like Atmosphere With UV Rays Creates Life Precursors. Please make sure to credit the photo as requested. Do not post this photo independent of the story. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.