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September 26, 2014
Cornell University
Hunting from a distance of 27,000 light years, astronomers have
discovered an unusual carbon-based molecule contained within a giant
gas cloud in interstellar space. The discovery suggests that the
complex molecules needed for life may have their origins in interstellar
space.
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Credit: Y. Beletsky/ESO [Click to enlarge image]
H
The vibrant, starry stream of the Milky Way frames radio telescopes of the
Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array - known as the ALMA Observatory -
in Chiles Atacama Desert.
unting from a distance of 27,000 light years, astronomers have
discovered an unusual carbon-based molecule -- one with a branched
structure -- contained within a giant gas cloud in interstellar space.
Like finding a molecular needle in a cosmic haystack, astronomers have
detected radio waves emitted by isopropyl cyanide. The discovery suggests
that the complex molecules needed for life may have their origins in
interstellar space.
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, known as the ALMA
Observatory, a group of radio telescopes funded partially through the National Science
Foundation, researchers studied the gaseous star-forming region Sagittarius B2.
Astronomers from Cornell, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the
University of Cologne (Germany) describe their discovery in the journal Science (Sept.
26.)
Organic molecules usually found in these star-forming regions consist of a single
"backbone" of carbon atoms arranged in a straight chain. But the carbon structure of
isopropyl cyanide branches off, making it the first interstellar detection of such a
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molecule, says Rob Garrod, Cornell senior research associate at the Center for
Radiophysics and Space Research.
This detection opens a new frontier in the complexity of molecules that can be formed
in interstellar space and that might ultimately find their way to the surfaces of planets,
says Garrod. The branched carbon structure of isopropyl cyanide is a common feature
in molecules that are needed for life -- such as amino acids, which are the building
blocks of proteins. This new discovery lends weight to the idea that biologically crucial
molecules, like amino acids that are commonly found in meteorites, are produced
early in the process of star formation -- even before planets such as Earth are formed.
Garrod, along with lead author Arnaud Belloche and Karl Menten, both of the Max
Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, and Holger Mller, of the University of Cologne,
sought to examine the chemical makeup of Sagittarius B2, a region close to the Milky
Way's galactic center and an area rich in complex interstellar organic molecules.
With ALMA, the group conducted a full spectral survey -- looking for fingerprints of new
interstellar molecules -- with sensitivity and resolution 10 times greater than previous
surveys.
The purpose of the ALMA Observatory is to search for cosmic origins through an array
of 66 sensitive radio antennas from the high elevation and dry air of northern Chile's
Atacama Desert. The array of radio telescopes works together to form a gigantic "eye"
peering into the cosmos.
"Understanding the production of organic material at the early stages of star formation
is critical to piecing together the gradual progression from simple molecules to
potentially life-bearing chemistry," said Belloche.
About 50 individual features for isopropyl cyanide (and 120 for normal-propyl cyanide,
its straight-chain sister molecule) were identified in the ALMA spectrum of the
Sagittarius B2 region. The two molecules -- isopropyl cyanide and normal-propyl
cyanide -- are also the largest molecules yet detected in any star-forming region.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Cornell University. The original
article was written by Blaine Friedlander. Note: Materials may be edited for content
and length.
Journal Reference:
1. A. Belloche, R. T. Garrod, H. S. P. Muller, K. M. Menten. Detection of a
branched alkyl molecule in the interstellar medium: iso-propyl cyanide.
Science, 2014; 345 (6204): 1584 DOI: 10.1126/science.1256678
Cite This Page:
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New Molecule Found in Space Connotes Life
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Cornell University. "New molecule found in space connotes life origins."
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New Molecule Found in
Space Connotes Life
Origins
Sep. 26, 2014 Hunting from a
distance of 27,000 light years,
astronomers have discovered an unusual carbon-based
molecule contained within a giant gas cloud in
interstellar space. The discovery suggests that the
... full story
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