Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have made a groundbreaking discovery of complex organic molecules around two young stars, as reported by NASA. The molecules detected include acetic acid (found in vinegar), ethanol (alcohol), formic acid (found in ant bites), sulfur dioxide, methane, and formaldehyde.
The detection of these molecules around the protostars IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, which are so young they have not yet formed planets, is significant in understanding the potential ingredients for habitable worlds. This finding sheds light on how life-sustaining elements are incorporated into planets and could help unravel the origins of complex organic molecules in space.
The search for complex molecules in space has long intrigued astronomers, with the Webb telescope playing a crucial role in discovering various types of ice made of different elements in interstellar clouds. This latest discovery provides evidence that complex organic molecules can be created through solid-phase chemical reactions on dust grains in cold space.
The study detailing these findings has been accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, highlighting the importance of understanding the early history of our solar system through the study of complex organic molecules. The team behind this research dedicated their findings to study co-author Harold Linnartz, a respected figure in the field of molecular astrophysics who passed away in December.
Linnartz’s legacy lives on through the groundbreaking discoveries made with the Webb telescope, shedding new light on astrochemical research and the origins of complex organic molecules in space. More data from Webb in the coming years is expected to further uncover the mysteries of the early solar system and the potential for life-sustaining ingredients in the cosmos.