Natural sugar discovered in cloud of dust and gas near centre of Milky Way
Astronomers have detected the simple sugar erythrulose in a dust cloud near the center of the Milky Way. This discovery suggests that essential building blocks for life can form in interstellar space.
Why it matters
Finding organic compounds in space provides evidence that the ingredients for life may be common throughout the galaxy, potentially seeding planets via comets.
The simple sugar erythrulose appears to be produced through chemical reactions on tiny interstellar dust grains. The simple sugar erythrulose appears to be produced through chemical reactions on tiny interstellar dust grains. Science Space jam: astronomers detect ‘raspberry sugar’ on dust cloud in Milky Way Detection of erythrulose shows compounds that are key to life can form in expanse between stars
The article reports on scientific findings with objective language and expert quotes.
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