science · 2 outlets · 2 linked reports
Astronomers Detect First True Sugar in Interstellar Space
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Summary
- Astronomers detected erythrulose in a molecular cloud about 26,700 light-years from Earth.
- Erythrulose is a four-carbon ketose also found in trace amounts in raspberries.
- Models indicate it can form on icy interstellar dust grains from simpler organic molecules.
- The result supports a possible extraterrestrial source of prebiotic sugars; it does not explain how life began.
The question
Could interstellar sugars have supplied early Earth with prebiotic material?
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