Another Important Molecule Found in Space
The discovery was made by ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory (IS0). ISO was aimed toward the center of our galaxy, specifically at SgrA* (RA 17h 45m 40s .0. Dec -29°00’28”.6 located within the constellation Sagittarius). The specific signature made by the methy radical was detected by the ISO’s Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS). The methyl radical is an extraordinarily reactive participant in organic chemistry. Many of the the building blocks for complex organic molecules are also present in large interstellar dust clouds. As such, it is becoming increasingly apparent that many of the components for life (“as we know it”) lie scattered among the stars. Just last month, astronomers using the National Science Foundation’s 12 Meter Every time we look closer at the chemical composition of the universe that surrounds us, we find more of the basic components that comprise our own bodies – and that of all life on Earth. Related links ° ISO detects a new molecule in interstellar space, ESA ° Detection of interstellar CH3, Astrophysical Journal ° Short Wavelength Spectrometer Background Information ° Astronomers Find Sugar Molecules In a Dust Cloud at Our Galaxy’s Center ° Scientists Discover Sugar in Space, National Radio Astronomy Observatory ° National Radio Astronomy Observatory ° Ex astra: Life From the Stars, Ad Astra magazine ° Meteorite Found to Contain Water From Our Solar System’s Infancy, SpaceRef ° New form of pure carbon found in Mexican meteorite; possible player in origin of life, University of Hawaii ° Hubble Surveys Dying Stars in Nearby Galaxy, Space Telescope Science Institute ° New research proves fullerene can be cosmic carbon carriers, University of Hawaii ° Researchers Discover Extraterrestrial Gases in Buckyballs, NASA ARC
Yet another molecule has been detected within dust clouds located near the center of our galaxy. This time it is methyl radical CH3. What makes this discovery of considerable interest to astrobiologists is the fact that terrestrial biochemistry makes frequent use of this molecule in the assembly of complex biomolecules.
Telescope, a radio telescope on Kitt Peak discovered the sugar molecule glycolaldehyde in a giant cloud of gas and dust near the center of
our own Milky Way Galaxy. Glycolaldehyde can combine with other
molecules to form the more-complex sugars Ribose and Glucose. Ribose is a building block of nucleic acids such as RNA and DNA, which carry the genetic
code of living organisms.
° Astrochemistry, SpaceRef Directory
° Astrochemistry Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
° NASA’s Origins Program, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
° Astrochemistry, NASA Ames Research Center
° NASA’s Astrobiology Program, NASA Ames Research Center