Scientists discover “impossible chemistry” …

In this cold world, whose temperature reaches 179 degrees below zero, recent research has shown that frozen hydrogen cyanide crystals can mix with liquid hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane, which form seas and lakes on the surface of this mysterious moon.

This discovery was the result of international scientific cooperation between researchers at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, and researchers at Chalmers University in Sweden. When NASA scientists noticed strange results during their laboratory experiments, they were unable to explain them themselves, so they turned to experts in Sweden who were able to solve this puzzling mystery.

Using sophisticated computer simulations, the research team discovered that nonpolar methane and ethane molecules can penetrate frozen crystals of polar hydrogen cyanide, forming what is known as a “co-crystal.” This reaction only occurs at very low temperatures similar to the conditions of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn.

This discovery is of great importance to our understanding of the origins of life, as Titan resembles Earth in its early stages, and although its extreme cold prevents the existence of life as we know it, these unexpected chemical reactions may provide vital clues about how life began on Earth.

Professor Martin Rahm, leader of the research team, comments: “This discovery opens new horizons for our understanding of chemistry in cold atmospheres, not only on Titan, but throughout the universe.”

Scientists now hope to confirm these results in practice when the Dragonfly vehicle arrives at Titan in 2034, where it will take samples directly from the surface of this strange world, which may reveal more exciting chemical surprises in the future.

Source: Space