Galactic electron density distribution models are crucial tools for estimating the impact of the ionised interstellar medium on the impulsive signals from radio pulsars and fast radio bursts. The two prevailing Galactic electron density models (GEDMs) are YMW16 (Yao et al. 2017, ApJ, 835, 29) and NE2001 (Cordes & Lazio 2002, arXiv e-prints, pp astro–ph/0207156). Here, we introduce a software package PyGEDM which provides a unified application programming interface for these models and the YT20 (Yamasaki & Totani 2020, ApJ, 888, 105) model of the Galactic halo. We use PyGEDM to compute all-sky maps of Galactic dispersion measure (DM) for YMW16 and NE2001 and compare the large-scale differences between the two. In general, YMW16 predicts higher DM values towards the Galactic anticentre. YMW16 predicts higher DMs at low Galactic latitudes, but NE2001 predicts higher DMs in most other directions. We identify lines of sight for which the models are most discrepant, using pulsars with independent distance measurements. YMW16 performs better on average than NE2001, but both models show significant outliers. We suggest that future campaigns to determine pulsar distances should focus on targets where the models show large discrepancies, so future models can use those measurements to better estimate distances along those line of sight. We also suggest that the Galactic halo should be considered as a component in future GEDMs, to avoid overestimating the Galactic DM contribution for extragalactic sources such as FRBs.

The signatures of intermittent dissipation of turbulent energy have been sought in the translucent environment of a low-mass dense core. Molecular line observations reveal a network of narrow filamentary structures, found on statistical grounds to be the locus of the largest velocity shears. Three independent properties of these structures make them the plausible sites of intermittent dissipation of turbulence: (1) gas there is warmer and more diluted than average, (2) it bears the signatures of a non-equilibrium chemistry triggered by impulsive heating due to turbulence dissipation, and (3) the power that these structures radiate in the gas cooling lines (mostly H2) is so large that it balances the total energy injection rate of the turbulent cascade, for a volume filling factor of only a few percents, consistent with other observations in the Solar Neighborhood. These filamentary structures may act as tiny seeds of gas condensation in diffuse molecular gas. They do not exhibit the properties of steady-state low-velocity magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) shocks, as presently modelled.

Understanding interstellar dust evolution is a major challenge underlying the interpretation of Spitzer observations of interstellar clouds, star forming regions and galaxies. I illustrate on-going work along two directions. I outline the potential impact of interstellar turbulence on the abundance of small dust particles in the diffuse interstellar medium and translucent sections of molecular clouds. I present results from an analysis of ISO and Spitzer observations of the central part of 30 Doradus, looking for dust evolution related to the radiative and dynamical impact of the R136 super star cluster on its parent molecular cloud.