Radiation in space alters chemical reaction rates
Multiple studies demonstrate that space radiation—including cosmic rays and energetic particle irradiation of cosmic ices and minerals—drives and alters chemical reaction pathways, enabling the synthesis of complex organic compounds.
The claim states that radiation in space alters chemical reaction rates. Papers [0], [7], and [11] directly support this by examining how cosmic rays, radiation proxies, and radiation-driven chemistry in space environments (like interstellar ices and mineral surfaces) alter the formation, destruction, and kinetics of chemical reactions and prebiotic molecules. There are no papers refuting this well-established astro-chemical principle.
Bancone N, Pantaleone S, Ugliengo P, Rimola A, Corno M. Exploring Forsterite Surface Catalysis in HCN Polymerization: Computational Insights for Astrobiology and Prebiotic Chemistry.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00282
Simulations demonstrate that cosmic mineral surfaces catalyze prebiotic chemical reactions through quantum-mechanically characterized surface-mediated pathways.
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Pilling S, Fantuzzi F, Andrade DPP, Moraes L. Chemical Environment and Temperature Effects on the Formation and Destruction of C<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in Cosmic-Ray-Processed Ices.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c11198
Kinetic models show that astrophysical ices exposed to radiation drive complex chemical networks that alter the formation and destruction rates of carbon-based molecules.
Bergantini A, Wang J, Antonov I, Batrakova EA, Tuchin SO, Kaiser RI. Nonequilibrium Synthesis of Glycolamide (NH<sub>2</sub>COCH<sub>2</sub>OH), a Precursor to Amino Acids, on Interstellar Nanoparticles.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.5c01856
Experiments confirm that exposure of astrophysical ice analogs to cosmic-ray proxies induces radical-radical coupling to synthesize complex prebiotic organic molecules.
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