Astronomers detect four-carbon sugar in interstellar cloud
Astronomers report the first direct detection of the four-carbon sugar erythrulose in the molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 near the Milky Way center, based on observations with the Yebes 40-meter and IRAM 30-meter radio telescopes and laboratory spectroscopic matches. The team identified 12 independent spectral lines matching erythrulose and found about eight times more erythrulose than similar three-carbon sugars, suggesting complex organic molecules can form in pre-stellar material. The finding, reported in Nature Astronomy and led by Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, implies that some prebiotic ingredients are present before star and planet formation and motivates searches for larger sugars such as ribose.
Erythrulose was directly detected in an interstellar molecular cloud.
Context
Astronomers long suspected sugars existed in deep space after detections in meteorites and asteroids such as Bennu and Orgueil. Laboratory spectroscopy and earlier lab syntheses supported that idea. Next, researchers plan targeted searches…
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