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interstellar benzene formation experiment fails

Interstellar Benzene Formation: Experiment Shows the Theory May Not Hold Up

Introduction to the Study of Benzene Formation in Space

Interstellar Experiment on Benzene Formation. Credit: Nature Astronomy (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02504-y

Researchers at the University of Colorado's JILA, alongside the National Institute of Science and Technology, performed an experiment to verify the formation of benzene in interstellar conditions as predicted by theory. The experiment yielded no benzene. The research, let by G. S. Kocheril, C. Zagorec-Marks, and H. J. Lewandowski, is feature in Nature Astronomy.

Theoretical Background: Ion-Molecule Collisions and Benzene Formation

Theoretical studies in the 1990's proposed that ion-molecule collisions could serve as a primary mechanism for interstellar benzene formation. These theories are crucial in astrophysical research, as benzene is considered a precursor to poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are believed to store cosmic carbon—a  key element in the origins of carbon-based life.

Challenges in Experimentally Validating Benzene Formation Theories

The experimental validation of theories regarding benzene formation in interstellar space has remained unexplored due to the challenge of replicating such extreme conditions. In their paper and a recent symposium presentation, the researchers stated that their JILA laboratory is equipped to conduct such as experiment.

The Experimental Setup: Extreme Conditions at JILA

The experiment was conducted under extreme conditions, with molecular interactions observed at a pressure nearly a trillion times lower than sea level and temperatures reduced to just 1 K. The process involved combining neutral acetylene with a potent proton donor, specifically N₂H⁺.

Mass Spectrometric Analysis and Unexpected Results

Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that acetylene was protonated by the donor as predicted, yielding C₆H₅⁺. However, introducing H₂ did not trigger the anticipated reaction, preventing benzene formation and, consequently, the initiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon synthesis.

Implications of the Findings: Re-evaluating Benzene Formation Theories

The team's findings indicate that alternative mechanisms for benzene formation in interstellar space must be explored. One potential avenue involves revisiting a 2011 University of Hawaii study, which proposed that neutral ethynyl radicals reacting with neutral 1,3-butadiene could facilitate benzene synthesis.

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