Scientists exploring how life may originate in space have announced the first successful synthesis of the seed of life molecule, which they have termed ‘superalcohol’, in conditions approximating the harsh environment of outer space.
The research team behind the first-of-its-kind accomplishment notes that if astronomers discover superalcohol—formally known as methanetetrol—on a planet or other distant location, it could indicate the potential presence of the building blocks required for the creation of life.
“This is essentially a prebiotic concentrate — a seed of life molecule,” explained Ryan Fortenberry, an astrochemist at the University of Mississippi.
Superalcohol Seed of Life Molecule Synthesis Pushing the “Final Frontier”
According to the team’s statement announcing the synthesis of the seed of life molecule, methanetetrol is an ortho acid, which is “an elusive class of compounds” that have proven “particularly difficult to isolate and study.” However, the team also said these molecules “are thought to play a key role in early life chemistry.”
“It’s something that can lead to more complex chemistry if given the opportunity,” Fortenberry explained. “Think of it like an acorn that will grow into a tree in the Grove. The acorn alone cannot make a tree; it requires sunlight and water, and lots of other things. But it can be what starts the process.”
Curious if it was possible to synthesize superalcohol in the lab, Fortenberry teamed up with Ralf Kaiser, professor of chemistry at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and Alexander M. Mebel, a computational chemist at Florida International University. Specifically, the team wanted to see if superalcohol could form in the harsh environment of space.
First, the researchers froze water and carbon dioxide ice samples to near absolute zero. Once frozen, the samples were exposed to radiation similar to that found in space, akin to cosmic rays. Using an ultraviolet light, the team confirmed that the superalcohol seed of life molecule had been released in gas form.
Kaiser, whose lab has been trying to isolate methanetetrol for more than five years, said the detection of the only alcohol containing four hydroxyl groups at the same carbon atom “pushes the experimental and detection capabilities to the ‘final frontier.” The researcher also added that this synthesis reveals “the next level” beyond what scientists could previously accomplish, “due to the lack of experimental and computational approaches.”
Findings Could Impact the Search for Life in the Cosmos
The researchers note that, prior to the study, the successful synthesis of methanetetrol was considered uniquely challenging due to its complex atomic structure. Specifically, they note that the superalcohol seed of life molecule has a large number of oxygen bonds and “oxygen does not like to bond close to other oxygens.” This unusually unstable structure means superalcohol molecules are likely to rapidly break down unless they are in the ideal conditions.
“You have this compact, carbon-oxygen molecule that just really wants to go ‘boom,’” Fortenberry explained. “And when it does, when you give it any kind of energy, you’ll have water, hydrogen peroxide, and a number of other potential compounds that are important for life. It’s like a prebiotic bomb.”
The researchers reasoned that the ability to synthesize the seed of life molecule in space makes the compound “particularly interesting” to scientists searching the cosmos for habitats that could potentially support life.
“While carbon is the building block of life, oxygen is what makes up nearly everything else,” Fortenberry said. “Oxygen is everywhere and is essential for life as we know it. So, if we can find places where methanetetrol forms naturally, we know that it is a place that has the potential building blocks to support life.”
The study, “Methanetetrol and the final frontier in ortho acids,” was published in Nature Communications.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.