Plastic ingredient spied on Titan
Last updated 8 hours ago
The Cassini probe has detected propene, or propylene, on Saturn's moon Titan.
On Earth, this molecule, which comprises three carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms, is a constituent of many plastics.
It is the first definitive detection of the plastic ingredient on any moon or planet, other than our home world, says the US space agency (Nasa).
The discovery, made by Cassini's infrared spectrometer, is reported in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"This chemical is all around us in everyday life, strung together in long chains to form a plastic called polypropylene," said Conor Nixon, a Nasa planetary scientist from the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center. A classic example would be the plastic boxes used to store food in kitchens worldwide.
U say? Plastic a in ike?
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