Molecules of the interstellar medium must break the rules to make the stuff of spaceBy Rachel Ehrenberg
The landscape could be the backdrop of a postapocalyptic film. It’s an environment of extremes, blasted by intense radiation, fierce winds and shock waves from violent explosions. Yet within this desolation, species persist. Not only are there ordinary, familiar faces, there is also, evidence suggests, a motley crew: galactic gangs that would make Mad Max cringe. Some are decked out in metal; others are radicals itching to react, amped up with positive and, new research shows, even negative charge.
These species are the molecules of space, the cosmic chemicals that dwell in the vacuous netherworld between stars. After decades of cataloging these chemical specimens, scientists are now bracing for a torrent of data that may lead to a better understanding of the reactions that create and destroy cosmic compounds.
Researchers are zooming in on the renegade reactive species, incorporating these players into models of the life cycles that govern space chemistry. The spiky, electrified characters may be major interstellar players in the formation of larger, more complex molecules — and could perhaps be the sparkling forerunners of life.
The chemical inhabitants of space are intimately linked to star formation and the greater cosmic cycle that gives rise to planetary systems. Scientists hope that the chemical exploration of the interstellar medium with its gas and bits of dust will reveal clues about the birth and evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. Added to this pursuit is the thrill of pushing the chemical envelope, probing an unmapped chemical frontier. It is an endeavor that will be aided by new telescopes, novel lab techniques and theory from astronomy and beyond.
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