Space Fuel Created in Lab

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have experimentally shown that methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) can exist as gas hydrates at temperatures and pressures seen in interstellar atmosphere. The scientists call this ‘space fuel’.

What are Gas Hydrates?

• Gas hydrate is a solid ice-like form of water that contains gas molecules in its molecular cavities. In nature, this gas is mostly methane.
• Methane gas hydrate is stable at the seafloor at water depths beneath about 500 m.
• The gas hydrate stability zone extends into the seafloor sediments down to a depth where temperature exceeds gas hydrate stability, usually ....