The UK is known for its pubs, but with a pint costing more and last orders feeling earlier and earlier, our options are a tad slim.
But if you’re in desperate need of a drink after a long day at work, there’s one place you could though – though, it’s a little far.
Scientists have managed to brew ‘super alcohol’, something that many of them weren’t even sure existed.
Methanetetrol (C(OH)₄), also called orthocarbonic acid, is something that astrochemists have assumed exists based on simulations.
The molecule consists of a central carbon atom bonded to hydroxyl (OH) groups, which are often found in alcohols like beer and wine.
But don’t ever ask a bartender for a shot of methanetetrol. While store-bought alcohol has one OH molecule, this greedy one is bonded to four, making it unstable.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers created the mythical molecule by recreating the cold abyss of space in a laboratory.
They froze carbon dioxide and water down to ultra-cold temperatures in a vacuum before blasting them with high-energy radiation.
By doing so, the team replicated cosmic rays radiated from stars and supernovae – exploding stars among the rarest events in the universe.
The researchers wrote in a paper: ‘The detection of methanetetrol in space-simulation experiments demonstrates that the interstellar medium is host to an unanticipated and counterintuitive chemistry that demands scientific attention.’
In other words, this is a chemical reaction that, while unsurprising, is a major breakthrough in the world of astrochemistry.
Ralf Kaiser, from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, said: ‘This work pushes the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space.’
What other chemicals, long thought impossible, could be out in the cosmos? This is a question the team are now asking.
After all, we’ve only discovered about 1% of the chemistry that occurs in space.
They’re also asking how they can detect methanetetrol in the wild, which is tricky given how it breaks apart quickly when shined with light, making it too fragile to exist on Earth.
The discovery suggests that the chemical could be forming in the ice and dust clouds between stars.
Last year, this same team helped discover another elusive chemical called methanetriol, which is a blob of carbon bound to three OH molecules.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Global space race hots up with UK’s ‘first rocket launch’ and moon reactor plans
MORE: Earth is spinning so fast that today will be shorter – but is time going faster?
MORE: Will there be a total solar eclipse on August 2? We have the answer
