Liquid-like behavior of UV-irradiated interstellar ice analog at low temperatures.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 28975154.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aao2538 and PMC identifier 5621975.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Interstellar ice is believed to be a cradle of complex organic compounds, commonly found within icy comets and interstellar clouds, in association with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and subsequent warming. We found that UV-irradiated amorphous ices composed of H<sub>2</sub>O, CH<sub>3</sub>OH, and NH<sub>3</sub> and of pure H<sub>2</sub>O behave like liquids over the temperature ranges of 65 to 150 kelvin and 50 to 140 kelvin, respectively. This low-viscosity liquid-like ice may enhance the formation of organic compounds including prebiotic molecules and the accretion of icy dust to form icy planetesimals under certain interstellar conditions.