US EditionScientists discover molecule in space that hints at origin of life
- Last week, researchers synthesized methanetetrol for the first time in Nature Communications and detected 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione in molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 about 27,000 light years away.
- Researchers sought to map prebiotic chemistry, aiming to fill gaps between simple interstellar molecules and complex organics in comets and meteorites, while one hypothesis says sulfur may be trapped in cosmic ices.
- In lab experiments, teams froze water and CO2 ices to near absolute zero, exposed them to radiation, then released methanetetrol into gas for powerful ultraviolet light identification.
- The discovery adds an important piece to the puzzle of cosmic chemistry, with authors of the detection study calling the molecule a 'missing link' and suggesting future detections of larger sulfur-bearing molecules.
- Detecting these molecules far from Earth suggests similar chemistry could occur elsewhere, and Mitsunori Araki said sulfur came to Earth long ago via comet and meteorite impacts that seeded early chemistry.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) have managed to identify in interstellar space the largest organic molecule ever identified to contain sulfur, a key ingredient for life. It is a molecule made up of a total of 13 atoms that far exceeds the size of all sulfur compounds previously detected in space. Sulphur is one of the essential elements for life on Earth. However, until now scientists had found only a ve…
Scientists discovered the largest organic molecule containing sulfur — a key ingredient for life — ever identified in interstellar space. Researchers call this finding a “lost link” in the scientific understanding of the cosmic origin of the chemistry of life. Sulphur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and a fundamental component of amino acids, proteins, and enzymes on Earth.
For the First Time, Scientists Detect Molecule Critical to Life in Interstellar Space
For the first time, a complex, ring-shaped molecule containing 13 atoms—including sulfur—has been detected in interstellar space, based on laboratory measurements. The discovery closes a critical gap by linking simple chemistry in space with the complex organic building blocks found in comets and meteorites. This represents a major step toward explaining the cosmic origins of the chemistry of life.
Scientists create mysterious molecule that could spark life in space
Scientists have successfully synthesized methanetetrol, an incredibly unstable and previously elusive compound thought to be a key ingredient in the chemical evolution of life. Described as a "prebiotic concentrate" or even a "prebiotic bomb," this molecule could represent a crucial step in the cosmic recipe for life.
The extinction in interstellar space of a large molecule containing sulfur makes life on other planets more likely. For details, read ᐅ TSN.ua (news 1+1)
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