简介：
Frigid Space Speeds Chemical Reaction
越冷的星际空间，越快的化学反应
A reaction between two common molecules occurs much faster at frosty interstellar temperatures than on our toasty Earth due to a cold-stabilized transition and quantum tunneling.
由于低温稳定了化学反应的过渡态，以及量子隧穿效应的帮助，两种常见分子在冰冷的星际空间中发生反应的速度，要比在温暖地球上进行得更快。
撰文/播音 约翰•马特森(John Matson)
翻译 李轩
Some curious chemistry is going on in deep space—apparently thanks to quantum mechanics.
深邃的星际空间中正上演着许多奇特的化学现象，而这些都归功于量子效应。
Chemists discovered that a reaction between two common molecules occurs much faster at cold interstellar temperatures than on our toasty Earth. Their experiments show that methanol, commonly known as wood alcohol, and hydroxyl react rapidly at –210 degrees Celsius to form methoxy, which has also been spotted in space.
化学家发现，两种常见分子在冰冷星际空间的反应速度，反而比在温暖的地球上更快。实验显示，甲醇（俗名木醇）能在零下210摄氏度的条件下与羟基反应生成甲氧基，而太空中也存在这个反应。
That’s a bit surprising, because it ordinarily takes some energy to get the reaction going. And there’s much more ambient energy in warm environments than in frigid space.
这多少令人有些惊讶。一般情况下，这个反应需要吸收一些能量才能发生，而与温暖的地方相比，冰冻环境中的能量实在少之又少。
Quantum tunneling may explain the otherwise unlikely reaction. In quantum mechanics, a tiny object can zip right through an energy barrier that it would otherwise have to surmount in order for a chemical reaction to take place. Imagine some drops of water zipping straight through a dam rather than going over the top.
或许，只有量子遂穿效应能解释这个不大可能发生的反应。化学反应的发生，要求分子必须翻越一个特定的能量屏障（科学家称之为“能垒”），而在量子力学中，一个微小的物体可以径直穿过这个屏障，就像直接横穿大坝的水滴一样。
How do interstellar temperatures speed the reaction? An intermediate molecule that exists briefly during the reaction is much more stable in the cold. The stability gives the reaction more time to proceed via the quantum tunneling option.
那么，星际空间的寒冷温度何以加速这个反应的发生？原来，反应的一个“中间产物”在越冷的地方越稳定，它的稳定性为分子的量子隧穿赢取了更多时间。
So if you’re mixing up an interstellar brew, bring your quantum cookbook.
所以如果你想调制一杯“星际啤酒”，别忘了带上量子食谱。
译者注：在量子力学里，量子隧穿效应为一种量子特性，是如电子等微观粒子能够穿过它们本来无法通过的“墙壁”的现象。这是因为根据量子力学，微观粒子具有波的性质，而有不为零的概率穿过位势障壁。
(题图来源：http://www.tgdaily.com/)
