All articles tagged with #hydrocarbons
Greenland, rich in natural resources including critical raw materials like lithium and rare earth elements, has significant mineral and hydrocarbon potential due to its complex geological history. However, climate change-induced ice melt exposes these resources but complicates sustainable extraction, raising environmental and geopolitical concerns amid increasing interest from countries like the US and Denmark.
The US's focus on leading in AI development is heavily reliant on hydrocarbons for energy, which could lead to higher costs, increased water stress, and environmental risks, potentially putting its long-term leadership and sustainability at risk compared to China, which is adopting more renewable energy sources.
NASA scientists suggest that cell-like vesicles could form in the hydrocarbon lakes of Saturn's moon Titan, potentially leading to the development of protocells and offering new insights into the origins of life beyond Earth, especially given Titan's unique environment rich in methane and ethane.
Researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Chemistry have discovered that aromatic structures linked through unsaturated hydrocarbon chains are responsible for the color variety of hydrocarbon-rich surfaces of Kuiper Belt objects. The team replicated the environment in the Kuiper Belt to examine the color evolution and their source on the molecular level as galactic cosmic rays processed hydrocarbons, such as methane and acetylene, under Kuiper Belt-like conditions. The study provides insight into the role played by ices exposed to radiation in the early production of biological precursor molecules.
Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Department of Chemistry have discovered the cause of the diverse range of colors in hydrocarbon-rich surfaces of Kuiper Belt objects, including Pluto. The team replicated the Kuiper Belt environment and used ultra-high vacuum irradiation experiments to examine the color evolution and its source on the molecular level. They found that aromatic structural units carrying up to three rings play a key role in producing reddish colors. The research provides insight into the role played by ices exposed to radiation in the early production of biological precursor molecules.
Gasoline can expire in as little as four weeks if left dormant in a vehicle's tank. Fuel stabilizers can extend the shelf life from one to three years in optimal conditions. Ethanol in gasoline can bond with water and corrode the engine. Gasoline is made up of only the lightest hydrocarbons out of crude oil, and leaving it too long can result in some of those molecules evaporating away. To maximize gasoline's shelf life, it should be stored in a full container in a constant temperature and low humidity environment.