In 2371, the crew of the USS Voyager detected this compound in open space while traversing the Delta Quadrant. Its detection raised the question, from Captain Janeway, "how could iron rust in space without oxygen?" Unable to determine an answer, they decided to follow the "trail of rust" to determine its source, which led them to the discovery of complex hydrocarbons in the rust, notably benzene, ethylene, and acetylene, the components of gasoline. Once located, the source was discovered to be a 1936 Ford truck, formerly belonging to an Ohio farmer. (VOY: "The 37's")