Sugar molecules discovered in deep space for the first time
Milky Way sugar discovery sheds light on the origins of life.
1Astronomical discovery
Scientists have detected erythrulose, a type of sugar, in a molecular cloud near the Milky Way's center for the first time. This four-carbon compound, found in sunless tanning creams and raspberries on Earth, is considered one of life's fundamental building blocks.
2Sweet foundations of life
Sugar molecules play critical roles in metabolic processes and form the basis of DNA/RNA. However, how Earth's first sugars formed remains a mystery. The new discovery suggests life may have begun with organic molecules from space.
3Advanced telescope technology
Spectroscopic surveys using sensitive telescopes at France's IRAM institute identified 12 spectral lines matching erythrulose samples in the G+0.693-0.027 cloud, 27,000 light-years from Earth. These lines perfectly matched laboratory measurements.
4Unexpected finding
Researchers found eight times more erythrulose than three-carbon sugars in the cloud. Astrophysicist Jiménez-Serra called this 'completely unexpected,' challenging the prevailing view that molecules grow by adding carbon atoms sequentially.
5Cosmic bombardment era
Findings suggest 0.5-55 million tons of erythrulose may have hit Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment (4.1-3.8 billion years ago). This amount could have been sufficient to kickstart our planet's first metabolic processes.
6Life's traces in space
The discovery hints that other crucial sugars like ribose (RNA's building block) might exist in space. Astrobiologist Briones emphasizes this finding opens a new chapter in origins-of-life research.
Original article: Popular Science — Derin uzayda ilk kez şeker keşfedildi