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Astronomers Spy 288bn Mile Booze Cloud

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the quite-a-binge dept.

netmucus writes to tell us that UK astronomers have spotted a giant cloud of methyl alcohol that spans approximately 288bn miles. From the article: "The booze cloud was spotted using the UK's MERLIN radio telescopes in an area of our own galaxy rather uninspiringly called W3(OH). According to the Royal Astronomical Society blurb, this is a region where 'stars are being formed by the gravitational collapse of a cloud of gas and dust.'"

7 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Except that this isn't drinkable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Methanol decomposes to formaldehyde and causes blindness.

  2. Methanol != booze by PunkOfLinux · · Score: 4, Informative

    The alcoholic component of booze is ETHANOL, (aka ethyl alcohol). This is not a booze cloud; an alcohol cloud, maybe... but not a booze cloud.

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  3. Original article by VincenzoRomano · · Score: 4, Informative

    Is here while images are here

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  4. We need to counterbalance this! by Kohath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Quick, someone find a coffee cloud.

  5. In Unrelated News... by Enderandrew · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...Ford Prefect and the Heart of Gold were spotted nearby.

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  6. Methyl Alcohol is LETHAL, it's not booze by EmagGeek · · Score: 5, Informative

    many people have died from drinking methyl alcohol. Your body metabolizes Methyl Alcohol into formaldehyde, which kills you slowly and painfully.

    Booze is ETHYL alcohol.

    Methyl = CH3OH
    Ethyl = C2H5OH
    Propyl = C3H7OH
    Butyl = C4H9OH
    Pentyl = C5H11OH
    Hexyl = C6H13OH
    Septyl = C7H15OH
    Octyl = C8H17OH (Octane is C8H18)

    The main difference between Organic X-anes and Alcohols is that alcohols readily mix with water. This is why, even though alcohols burn more cleanly, we use X-anes for fuel. Alcohols are difficult to store and transport because they'll suck water out of anything, reducing their BTU density. They also have a much lower heat of vaporization, so they evaporate more quickly.

    Has anyone noticed that you can smell the ethyl alcohol in the new reformulated gas that is being sold? That kinda freaked me out the first time I noticed it. Smelled like Jagermeister... or Robitussin, depending on which you prefer...

  7. Re:Hey Dude, by Enderandrew · · Score: 4, Funny

    It Scotland, your post would be translated as, "Hey Macleoud, get off my ewe!"

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