Scientists have revealed that the interstellar organic matter is an inexhaustible source of water and oil components in space. According to the researchers, that when heated by the Sun it could cause the appearance of abundant supplies of water and oil on Earth. Briefly about the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, said in a press release on Phys.org.
Experts had an analogue of organic substances in interstellar molecular clouds. To do this, they irradiated with ultraviolet light a mixture of water, carbon monoxide and ammonia, mimicking the natural process of synthesis in space. Then they heated the mixture to a temperature 24-400 degrees centigrade in the cell with a diamond anvil, is capable of reproducing extremely high pressure.
Within a hundred degrees Celsius the sample was homogeneous, but with increasing temperature up to 200 degrees was divided into two phases. At 350 degrees and above was observed the formation of large drops of pure water. Along with water the sample was identified petroleum compounds similar to those found in crude oil.
Thus, the interstellar medium can be the source of the water on Earth if it was within the snow line — boundaries in the Solar system, outside of which the volatile substances are in a frozen state. In addition, it could facilitate the occurrence of large oil reserves in the bowels of the planet, not related to the activities of living organisms.
