Complex Organic Molecules Found in Space: Did Life Begin Here?

Scientists from MIT have uncovered complex carbon molecules in a distant interstellar gas and dust cloud, offering exciting new clues about the origins of life in the universe. This groundbreaking discovery, published in Science, suggests that these large, organic molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), existed in the cold, dark cloud that eventually gave rise to our Solar System. The persistence of these molecules through Earth's formation could provide essential insights into how life began on our planet. Explore the cosmic chemistry of pyrene and learn how these findings could shape our understanding of the universe's secrets.