Astronomers have detected erythrulose, a type of sugar, within the interstellar medium of the Milky Way [1, 2, 3].
The discovery is significant because the presence of such organic molecules in deep space may offer clues regarding the origins of life on Earth [3, 4].
Erythrulose is a molecule commonly found in raspberries and is also used in the production of self-tanning products [1, 2]. Researchers located the sugar in the thin clouds of gas and dust that exist between stars, including regions situated near the center of the galaxy [1, 3, 5].
These interstellar clouds serve as the primary environment where complex chemistry occurs before the formation of new planetary systems. The detection of a sugar molecule suggests that the building blocks of biological life can form and persist in the vacuum of space [3, 4].
Errol Barnett said the molecule was "just floating out in the galaxy" [1].
By studying how these molecules behave in the interstellar medium, scientists hope to better understand the chemical evolution of the universe. The identification of erythrulose adds to a growing list of organic compounds found in space, bridging the gap between simple cosmic dust, and the complex chemistry required for living organisms [3, 5].
“The discovery of erythrulose in the interstellar medium may provide new clues about how life first emerged on Earth.”
The presence of erythrulose in the Milky Way indicates that complex organic chemistry is not exclusive to planetary surfaces. If prebiotic sugars can form in the interstellar medium, it increases the likelihood that the essential ingredients for life are widely distributed throughout the galaxy, potentially suggesting that life could emerge wherever the right conditions are met.
