Astronomers detect natural sugar in dust cloud near Milky Way center
6 reported
Astronomers have detected a natural sugar called erythrulose in a large cloud of dust and gas near the center of the Milky Way, according to a study published in Nature Astronomy. The discovery marks the first time a sugar has been directly detected in interstellar space. Researchers used two Spanish radio telescopes to observe the dust cloud, designated G+0.693-0.027. The sugar appears to form through chemical reactions on tiny interstellar dust grains, which can then reach planets via comets or asteroid impacts. Scientists estimate that millions of tonnes of erythrulose could have rained down on Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment, potentially contributing to the emergence of life. The compound is also found in trace amounts in red raspberries and is used in fake tan lotions.
What’s reported
Erythrulose, a natural sugar found in raspberries and used in fake tan lotions, was detected in a dust and gas cloud near the center of the Milky Way.
The discovery is the first detection of a sugar in interstellar space, according to the researchers.
The study was published in Nature Astronomy and led by Dr. Izaskun Jiménez-Serra at Spain’s Centre for Astrobiology.
The sugar forms when glycolaldehyde and ethylene glycol combine on microscopic dust grains at temperatures around -250C.
Scientists estimate millions of tonnes of erythrulose could have rained down on Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment.
The compound can react to form ribonucleotides, building blocks of RNA.
Key figures
Dr. Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, researcher at Spain’s Centre for Astrobiology near Madrid
Prof. Yoshihiro Furukawa, researcher at Tohoku University in Japan
Sources: The Guardian
