Astronomers have found the sugar necessary for life in space
Astronomers have for the first time discovered the natural sugar type in a large gas and dust cloud located near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to experts, this important discovery demonstrates that organic substances, which are considered necessary for the emergence of life in space, can also form directly in the stellar environment. It is about a simple sugar type called eritritol.
This substance is mainly found in the composition of apple fruits in nature. It is also widely used in modern cosmetics industry, especially in the production of skin tanning agents.
Scientists found this substance in a molecular cloud located near the center of the Milky Way. The authors of the study particularly emphasized that this result does not indicate the existence of other intelligent civilizations in space.
However, the discovery confirms that complex organic compounds, which are considered the foundation for life, can naturally occur even in the extremely cold and unfavorable regions of the cosmos. According to Spanish astrobiologist Izaskun Himenes-Serrano, eritritol is the first sugar type ever recorded in the stellar environment.
This indicates that such substances may be distributed much more widely in the universe than previously assumed. According to the scientists' explanation, eritritol is formed as a result of unique chemical reactions occurring on the surface of fine dust particles.
Later, these substances may be incorporated into comets or asteroids and reach various planets, which is quite likely. During the study, specialists examined the specially selected dust cloud using powerful radio telescopes in Spain.
Initially, they were searching for other types of sugar compounds, but unexpectedly managed to detect signals specific to eritritol. It is reported that this sugar can form even in extremely cold conditions of approximately minus two hundred and fifty degrees in the universe.
This shows that high temperature is not absolutely necessary for the formation of organic molecules. Specialists noted that eritritol not only serves as an energy source but also plays an important role in the formation of genetic systems.
Therefore, the scientific theory that such organic compounds may have reached Earth in the past through comets and meteorites is becoming increasingly stronger. The organic substances in the cosmic bodies that fell to Earth millions of years ago may have created the initial conditions for the emergence of life in our planet.
Japanese scientist Yosihiro Furukawa also highly rated this result as a very important scientific event. According to his statement, sugars formed in the stellar environment can naturally reach various parts of the universe.
Nevertheless, this process cannot fully explain how and at which stage life was formed. For this reason, complex scientific research and observations in this field are expected to continue for a long time.
