Booze in space: Is methanol reaction 'cheating' laws of physics? [View all]

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By Amina Khan
July 2, 2013, 9:20 a.m.
With the help of a little alcohol, scientists have discovered supposedly impossible chemical reactions in the cold reaches of space. Organic molecules like methanol are being created and destroyed in clouds of interstellar gas, thanks to a spooky process called quantum tunneling.

The findings, published in Nature Chemistry, reveal a mind-boggling phenomenon that seems to be "cheating" the classical laws of physics.

Scientists have long wondered how space chemistry occurs at such cold temperatures. That’s because when molecules come together, they need a little energy to break and form new bonds. But much of outer space is cold, lacking the energy to fuel these chemical reactions and overcome this energy barrier, study coauthor Dwayne Heard, a physical chemist at the University of Leeds in England, said in an interview.
"At these low temperatures, there's just simply not enough energy to get over the top of the barrier," Heard said.

And yet, such reactions must be taking place: Researchers have found a complex molecule called methoxy, one of the products of a reaction involving methanol. Methanol, a type of alcohol found in fuel and antifreeze, has a reputation for giving bootleg liquor its poisonous edge.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-alcohol-space-methanol-quantum-tunneling-physics-cheat-20130701,0,2366673.story