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Why is this a thing today? There are many complex molecule clouds floating around in space. More complex stuff than methyl has been found. Searching quickly
by beeforpork 3y ago
Why is this a thing today? There are many complex molecule clouds floating around in space. More complex stuff than methyl has been found. Searching quickly to refresh my memory, they found formic acid in 1990:
https://europepmc.org/article/med/11538681 https://europepmc.org/article/med/11538681
and amino acetonitrile in 2008:
https://www.mpg.de/567495/pressRelease20080325 https://www.mpg.de/567495/pressRelease20080325
By the title of this article, I would have guessed they found, say, an amino acid. Which is also already speculated and expected, but has possibly not yet been detected before. But methyl seems a bit trivial to me, or is the detection of it special and interesting in some other ways? I am not at all an expert, only quite interested.
- Aerbil313 3y agoYeah, same. Methyl? That’s so simple it ought to be everywhere.
- sfn42 3y agoIt's less about what's worthy of a headline and more about what's likely to collect clicks. Feels like >50% of "science news" is just some unimportant study or minor discovery being exaggerated and touted as some big breakthrough.
- passwordoops 3y agoI forgot where I read somewhere recently that science journalism comes down to: -cure for cancer -wine/chocolate is good/bad for you -all of physics is wrong -aliens! (depending on the zeitgeist)
- jmclnx 3y agoWith all the UFO crazy going on in the US, I guess the recycled an article to get more clicks. And who says recycling is not happening these days :)
- hammyhavoc 3y agoOut of the loop, but has there been anything particularly interesting UFO-wise lately?
- trentnix 3y agoAs I recently read, scientists speak to the press when they are either trying to raise money or are obligated to do so by those who who have given them money. And the press is just excited to have something to print.