Spanish astronomers detect sugar molecule in interstellar space
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Researchers at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) detected the sugar molecule erythrulose in the molecular cloud G+0.693−0.027 near the center of the Milky Way. The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, proves that complex organic compounds can form in deep space before stars and planets emerge.
The Detection
The team used two radio telescopes — the Yebes Observatory near Madrid and the IRAM facility in Sierra Nevada — to scan the molecular cloud. By comparing radio wave data with laboratory molecular spectra, they identified erythrulose, a four-carbon sugar naturally found in raspberries. Lead author Dr. Izaskun Jiménez-Serra said the finding challenges conventional astrochemistry, showing that complex organic structures can form spontaneously on icy dust grains long before planetary systems develop.
Implications for Life's Origins
The discovery supports the panspermia theory, which suggests life's building blocks arrived from space. Prof. Mark Sephton of Imperial College London noted that sugars like ribose and glucose had previously been found in asteroids and meteorites, but direct detection in interstellar space strengthens the cosmic seeding hypothesis. Scientists estimate that during the Late Heavy Bombardment about 4 billion years ago, millions of tons of erythrulose may have been delivered to Earth via comets and meteorites, potentially kickstarting chemical evolution.
Broader Significance
Erythrulose is used in cosmetics for its tanning effect, but its biological importance extends far beyond commercial use. Co-author Carlos Briones, a molecular evolution expert, called the detection 'the tip of the iceberg,' hinting at more complex organic molecules yet to be found. The study opens new avenues for understanding how the molecular precursors of life form and spread across the universe.
What's Next
The team plans to search for other complex sugars in the same molecular cloud using higher-resolution telescopes. It remains unclear whether such molecules are common in star-forming regions or unique to this particular cloud.
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Spanish astronomers detect sugar molecule in interstellar space
