Researchers have successfully produced methanetetrol, a highly unstable molecule found in deep space interstellar clouds. By recreating extreme conditions using artificial space ice and high-energy radiation blasts, they were able to trigger a chemical reaction that led to the formation of this “super alcohol.” The discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding chemical reactions in deep space and has implications for the study of lifeforms in the universe.
Methanetetrol is made up of four hydroxyl groups at a single carbon atom, making it highly unstable. However, its existence was first predicted over a century ago, and this latest research provides conclusive evidence of its existence. The researchers used advanced scientific techniques to detect methanetetrol in their lab experiment, but the molecule breaks apart quickly when exposed to light.
This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for our understanding of chemistry in space and the search for life beyond Earth. While we have only discovered a small fraction of chemicals found in space, advances in technology are helping us better understand this complex field. Further research is needed to detect methanetetrol in its natural habitat, but this study provides a crucial step forward.
The identification of methanetetrol represents a significant discovery in the field of astrochemistry and has sparked interest in exploring other “impossible” molecules found in deep space. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space, they are gaining new insights into the complex interactions between matter and energy in extreme environments.
The research was published in Nature Communications, with contributions from an international team of scientists. Chemist Ralf Kaiser notes that this work “pushes the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space.”
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-brewed-a-super-alcohol-theorized-to-exist-in-deep-space