Scientists have discovered new details about the creation of distant cold objects in Neptune space, providing a deeper understanding of the formation and growth of our solar system.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have analyzed distant bodies-known as trans-nptunian objects (OTNS)-and found several traces of methanol. The findings are helping them better classify different OTNS and understand the complex chemical reactions in space that may be related to the formation of our solar system and the origin of life.
O, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters by the American astronomical society, reveal two distinct groups of OTNS with the presence of chill To the surface: one with a reduced amount of methanol to the surface and a large reservoir under the surface, and another – farther from the sun – with a globally weaker methanol presence.
The study suggests that Cosmic irradiation over thousands of millions of years may have played an important role in the varied distribution of methanol In the first group, while raising new questions about the weaker subscriptions of the second group.
Retreating in time and space
OTNS are important to our understanding of the origins of our solar system because they are incredibly well -preserved from the protoplanetary disc – or gas and dust disc that surrounds a young star like the sun – and can give scientists a thorough glimpse of the past.
Noemí Pinilla-Elonso, research professor at the University of Florida Central Physics Department (UCF), collided with the investigation and states that the investigation helps to reconstruct the history of solar system chemistry and to obtain information about exoplanets, where methanol and methane perform one crucial role in the formation of atmospheres and indication of the conditions of potentially habitable worlds.
“Methanol, a simple alcohol, was found in comets and distant OTNS, suggesting that it can be a primitive ingredient inherited from the beginnings of our solar system-or even from interstellar space,” says Pinilla-Elonso. “But Methanol is more than a simple trace of the past. When exposed to radiation, transforms into new substances, acting as a time chemical capsule that reveals how these cold worlds have evolved over thousands of millions of years. ”
Cold methanol is a key precursor that can lead to organic molecules such as sugars, and its discovery in OTNs paves the way much more, she says.
These spectral differences reveal that not all OTNs have formed from the same molecular ingredients, says Pinilla-Elonso. Instead, their compositions reflect their origins – where and how they graduated – and their transformations over time.
“What excited me most was realizing that these differences were related to methanol behavior – a key ingredient that has long not been seen in the OTNS through terrestrial observations,” he says. “Our findings suggest that Methanol is being destroyed on the surface of the otns By irradiation, but remains more abundant in the subsurface, protected from this exhibition. ”
Pinilla-Elonso worked in conjunction with UCF researchers, including Souza-Feliciano, who synthesized laboratory data with models to better explain methanol behavior.
De Souza-Feliciano helped better visualize the findings, reproducing some of the spectal characteristics that scientists were observing, and provided mathematician support for study data.
“One of the biggest surprises came from methanol behavior“, Says de Souza-Feliciano.” From laboratory data, their signatures in shorter wavelengths differ from fundamental signatures in longer wavelengths. “
De Souza-Feliciano collaborated in previous disk investigation projects using JWST that characterized binary objects and other distant OTNS.
“The album’s main scientific article addressed the main characteristics of the three OTNS groups,” he says. “This scientific article comes into detail about one of them, known as the Penhanco Group, which is the nickname for the spectral group where the reflectance does not increase after approximately 3.3 microimeters.”
Not only are these cliffs group They are time capsules For our solar system, such as the hosting classic and cold group that, in large part, have been in place since its formation, says Souza-Feliciano.
“One of the reasons why this group is fundamental to understanding the exterior solar system is the fact ofand contain all classic and cold OTNS“He says.” The classic and cold OTNS are the only dynamic group that probably remained where it has formed from the beginning of the solar system to this day. “
International collaboration
Rosario Brunetto, astronomer at Université Paris-Saclay, led the investigation with fellow scientists Elsa Hénault and Sasha Cryan.
He says he believes that this collaborative discovery will provide fundamental knowledge about our solar system and arouse interest by planetary science.
“This discovery not only reformulates our understanding of OTNS, but also provides a crucial reference for interpreting webb observations Of other distant objects, such as Neptune Trojans, centaurs and asteroids, as well as for future missions that explore the exterior solar system, ”says Brunetto.
“In addition to its scientific meaning, the search for methanol in the solar system also feeds curiosity and inspires new generations to explore the cosmos and understand chemical evolutions in space.”
