Laboratory Astrophysics is the experimental and theoretical frontier where scientists recreate the extreme conditions of space—such as interstellar clouds, planetary nebulae, and star-forming regions—in controlled laboratory settings. By measuring the rotational spectra, chemical behavior, and physical properties of transient and refractory molecules, researchers generate the essential “fingerprints” that guide astronomers in identifying new molecules and deciphering the chemistry of the cosmos. At the University of Arizona, Professor Lucy Ziurys and her group design and build custom instrumentation to study short-lived gas-phase species—including metal-bearing radicals and ions—in the microwave, millimeter, and terahertz regions. These precise laboratory measurements enable the detection of new molecules in astronomical sources, revealing the complex chemistry at work in dying stars, star-forming clouds, and the broader interstellar medium.