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Giant Cloud of Methanol Found in Space

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the space-drinks dept.

kakos writes "Astronomers have recently discovered a giant cloud of methanol in our region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The cloud measures 463 billion kilometres across. Study of this cloud could lead scientists to a greater understanding of how star formation occurs. Furthermore, the abundance of organic molecules in interstellar space could also shed light on the chemical origins of life."

18 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Post Petroleum economy solved! by jvalenzu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally, a solution for our post-peak oil problems! Now, all we need to do is make a solar powered spaceship and pack a really long siphoning hose...

    1. Re:Post Petroleum economy solved! by Edward+Teach · · Score: 3, Funny

      Back in Texas, we called that an Oklahoma Credit Card...

      --

      Setting his threshold to 5, Sparky eliminated most of the trolls on /.

  2. Scientists described the cloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    as "great tasting", with "less tar".

    1. Re:Scientists described the cloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hmm... close, but no cigar.

  3. Fire Up the Engines! by Quaoar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh wait, you said Methanol...well, we can still get totally wasted off of that, broseph!

    /Frat Aliens

    --
    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
  4. The state of general knowledge. by Yeshua · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know things are starting to slip when it has to be explicitly pointed out in an article about an astronomic discovery that you can't drink the thing.

    Other than jokingly, I wonder how many people thought "Cool, space booze!"?

    1. Re:The state of general knowledge. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Well, according to your diagram, all you have to do is BREATHE.

  5. Methanol, eh? by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remember kids, looking at it in a telescope is fine, but drink it and you'll go blind. Instead of imbibing galactic moonshine, buy your alcohol only from a legitimate manufacturer.

  6. Old news... by deadgoon42 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is old news.

    --

    Smeghead every day of the week.
  7. Dreams by mqduck · · Score: 3, Funny

    This reminds me of the pool of ethanol I swim in in my dreams.

    --
    Property is theft.
  8. Alert the neocons ! by javaDragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time for a regime change in space, let's liberate aliens and bring them democracy.

    --
    -- javaDragon is an instance of JavaDragon.
  9. Reminds me of Captain Janeway by saramakos · · Score: 3, Funny

    "There's Coffee in that Nebula"

  10. Martinis anyone? by ncrypted · · Score: 5, Funny

    you know, If we could muster enough methane, the right catalyst, and a gallon of vermouth we could have a martini almost half a light-year across.......

    And who says there's no God...

    --
    == That terrible green-green grass, and violent blooms of flower dresses, and afternoons that make me sleepy.==
    1. Re:Martinis anyone? by clickety6 · · Score: 3, Funny

      But where do you find the 2 petatonne olive? And the mega-mini-umbrella ?

      --
      ----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
  11. Help me? by 4D6963 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Ummm let's see... let's say that a liter of methonal costs about 30 USD cents, that's $3 * 10^11 a cubic kilometer. Provided that the cloud is about round, it must have a volume of about 4 * 10^35 cubic kilometers. Ummm.. I only need to know the density of this cloud in order to calculate how much it's worth in order to attract investors in order to send a tube there and suck all of it off.

    Maybe the desnity is indicated somewhere in the article... should I read the article? This is Slashdot, no way!

    --
    You just got troll'd!
  12. It's Melllvar!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    MELLLVAR
    It is I!

    [Everyone gasps and looks up. Above them is a hovering, green cloud.]

    BENDER
    Whoa! What a cheesy effect!

    MELLLVAR
    I am not an effect! You doubt my power?

    BENDER
    I do.

    [Melllvar zaps Welshy with a bolt of lightning and he falls over.]

    WELSHY (shouting)
    Aye!

    [Fry runs to him and holds him.]

    FRY (screaming)
    Welshy!

  13. Methanol? by miscz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wake me up when they find some ethanol. :\

  14. somebody really dropped a big one ... by SimonInOz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, that's the hugest fart in the entire .. sorry, I thought you said methANE.

    Sorry. Forget I said that. Sorry

    --
    "Cats like plain crisps"