Astronomers have detected precursors to the building blocks of life on the discs of V883 Orionis, a young star located 1,305 light-years from Earth in the constellation Orion.
Scientists writing in The Astrophysical Journal Letters warn that the evidence collected so far is tentative. However, if confirmed, the discovery implies that the necessary ingredients for life could be far more widespread than previously thought.
Complex organic molecules (COM) are those that contain six or more atoms, one or more of which must be carbon. Amino acids and nucleic acids — considered to be two of life’s building blocks — are examples. So are their precursors.
Astronomers have detected COMS in several environments, including those involved in planet and star formation. In fact, discoveries of these COMS in the interstellar medium (the material that exists between stars) are “increasingly common”, the authors of the paper reported. What is less certain is ...
