Space & Astronomy

Organic molecules found in interstellar space

By T.K. Randall
September 28, 2014

Image Credit: (PD) NASA/ESA/ESO/Wolfram Freudling et al via Wikimedia Commons The building blocks of life appear to be widespread throughout the universe according to scientists who have discovered iso-propyl cyanide, a molecule with a structure similar to that of known complex organic molecules, within a star-forming cloud located more than 27,000 light years from the Earth.

While other organic molecules have been found before, iso-propyl cyanide is the first to have a branched carbon backbone.

The molecule was discovered using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array in Chile."Our goal is to search for new complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium," said Dr Arnaud Belloche from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. "The idea is to know whether the elements that are necessary for life to occur can be found in other places in our galaxy."

The discovery is a promising sign that these elements are common throughout interstellar space.

"It's a step closer to discovering molecules that can be regarded as the building blocks or the precursors… of amino acids," said Prof Matt Griffin. "That's what everyone would like to see."

Source: BBC News

Tags: Life, Galaxy, Interstellar