In a groundbreaking discovery, MIT researchers have identified large carbon based molecules, specifically pyrene, within a distant interstellar gas cloud. Published in Science, this finding offers clues about the formation of complex organic molecules vital for life dating back to the time when the Solar System was just beginning.
Pyrene, a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), is a ring-shaped carbon molecule common in theories about carbon-based life. Although PAHs have long been abundant in interstellar space, the discovery of pyrene specifically, known for its resilience in harsh conditions, is significant.
In fact, researchers previously thought that complex molecules like pyrene couldn’t survive the intense radiation of star formation. Yet pyrene was recently found in asteroid samples from Ryugu, confirming its existence within our Solar System’s primordial clouds.
To detect pyrene indirectly in space, the team used the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, observing a “tracer” molecule called 1-cyanopyrene within the Taurus molecular cloud. This molecule, which emits radio waves detectable by telescopes, revealed that pyrene could indeed survive in the icy, radiation-filled molecular clouds that form stars and planets.
These findings support the hypothesis that complex molecules from interstellar space provided the foundation for life on Earth. With life emerging almost as soon as Earth’s surface cooled 3.7 billion years ago, complex carbon structures like pyrene were likely crucial for sparking early cellular life. This discovery adds to our understanding of life’s origins and aligns with prior findings, including the discovery of propylene oxide, the first chiral molecule identified in space, which is essential for the formation of biological structures on Earth.
As we continue exploring, the idea that life on Earth may have roots in interstellar chemistry grows stronger, offering fascinating insights into the cosmic origins of life.
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