Cubane molecule. Computer model of a molecule of cubane. Atoms are represented as spheres and are colour coded; carbon (gold) and hydrogen (blue). Cubane is a synthetic hydrocarbon that was only thought to be able to exist in theory until it was synthesised in 1964 at the University of Chicago. The 90 degree bonding angle of the carbon atoms in the molecule means they are highly strained. This along with it being the densest hydrocarbon enables it to store a large amount of energy, which could make it useful as a fuel or explosive.