Vinyl Cyanide Titan

Recent simulations have indicated that vinyl cyanide is the best candidate molecule for the formation of cell membranes vesicle structures in titan s hydrocarbon rich lakes and seas.

Vinyl cyanide titan. In the past it has been speculated that this compound could be present in titan s atmosphere. It s a nitrogenous compound recently confirmed by nasa researchers in the journal science advances to exist in the atmosphere of saturn s moon titan. Vinyl cyanide found on titan aliens have at it. Although the existence of vinyl cyanide c2h3cn on titan was previously inferred using cassini mass spectrometry a definitive detection has been lacking until now.

Vinyl cyanide isn t a 70s punk band even though it sure sounds like it could have been. Also known as vinyl cyanide acrylonitrile is used here on earth in the manufacture of plastics. Molecular chains with. Although the existence of vinyl cyanide c2h3cn on titan was previously inferred using cassini mass spectrometry a definitive detection has been lacking until now.

If true it could prove to us that life can flourish without the ubiquitous h o. It is a colorless volatile liquid although commercial samples can be yellow due to impurities. The compound might be suitable for cell membranes. Vinyl cyanide or acrylonitrile c 2 h 3 cn has come into focus due to the recent work of stevenson et al.

In terms of its molecular structure it consists of a vinyl group linked to a nitrile it is an important monomer for the manufacture of useful plastics such as polyacrylonitrile. In a liquid methane environment vinyl cyanide may form membranes. Acrylonitrile is an organic compound with the formula ch 2 chcn. Titan is shown in an optical infrared atmosphere surface composite from nasa s cassini spacecraft.

Which showed through theoretical liquid phase calculations that this molecule is one of the most favored to form thermodynamically stable membranes azotosomes in liquid methane at the surface temperature of titan approximately 94. Some scientists in the past have proposed that vinyl cyanide might have the potential to form membranelike spheres called azotosomes. It has a pungent odor of garlic or onions. Called vinyl cyanide those molecules are created high in titan s atmosphere and now scientists know there s a truckload of them tucked into the moon s orange haze that probably rain down.