Overview

• An international team led by Ryan Fortenberry, Ralf Kaiser and Alexander M. Mebel produced methanetetrol (C(OH)₄) by freezing CO₂ and water ices under vacuum and irradiating them to mimic cosmic rays
• Spectroscopic analysis confirmed the structure of the ‘super alcohol’ and documented its extreme instability under ultraviolet light
• Photodissociation experiments showed methanetetrol rapidly decomposes into water, hydrogen peroxide and other prebiotic molecules when energized
• The discovery challenges existing astrochemical models by revealing unanticipated reaction pathways in interstellar ices
• Researchers are now developing targeted observational methods to detect the molecule’s transient signals in deep-space ice clouds