Key facts
- Astronomers have detected a sugar molecule called erythrulose in the interstellar medium.
- Erythrulose is also found in raspberries and self-tanners.
- The discovery was made using radio telescopes in Spain.
- This finding supports the theory that key ingredients for life may have been present in the galaxy from its early stages.
- The research was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Astronomers have detected a type of sugar, erythrulose, floating in the interstellar medium, the space between stars. This discovery may provide crucial insights into how life first originated on Earth. The sugar, also found in raspberries and self-tanners, was identified in a large gas cloud near the center of the Milky Way by researchers using radio telescopes in Spain. Scientists are eager to understand sugar formation, as sugars are fundamental to life, fueling cells and forming DNA. The detection of erythrulose, one of the most complex sugars found in space to date, supports the theory that essential components for life may have been present in the galaxy from its early stages, potentially delivered by comets or space rocks. Researchers plan to search for more sugars in space and investigate how they transform between forms, suggesting that the building blocks for life could be widespread across the galaxy, opening possibilities for life to develop elsewhere. The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.