4 ms·
Elusive molecule, first in Universe, detected in space
- astazangasta 8y agoWhy HeH+? What about good ol' H2?
- andrewflnr 8y agoMy question as well. I wonder if they're not counting H2 because it's only one element. Edit: check out the replies to this coming in another thread on the story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19693647 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19693647
- _Nat_ 8y agoApparently the universe was too hot for electrons to combine with atomic nuclei at first, so everything was a plasma. As it cooled, He grabbed up electrons first, forming the first neutral atoms while H+ was still a plasma. So there was a lot of He and H+ bouncing around at high temperature, allowing the first molecules to form as [He-H]+.
- Sharlin 8y agoYep. He has a higher ionization energy than H.
- tzfld 8y agoI find somewhat interesting the contrast of what the HN community consider being worth to mention. Like between manned moon base plans and a cosmology related discovery we have the rumor of hiding Instagram likes.
- ChlorophZek 8y agoPersonally I think it's quite an interesting explanation for the paucity of elements 3,4, and 5, that they can only be formed by cosmic ray spallation. And, I'm not disinclined to examine various patch up theories of the early Big Bang and debate them. But, it took you so long to post a serious reply; instead you posted a slew of the ad hominem attacks.