MIT Researchers Discover Carbon-Rich Pyrene, a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, in TMC-1, Linking It to Origins of Life

Oct 26, 2024, 05:21 AM

MIT-led researchers have discovered pyrene, a complex carbon-rich polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), in the distant interstellar cloud TMC-1. This finding is significant as it suggests that such carbon-containing molecules could be a primary source of carbon in our solar system. The detection of pyrene marks the first time a complex form of carbon crucial for life on Earth has been identified outside the solar system, contributing to the understanding of how the essential compounds for life may originate from space. This discovery represents a critical milestone in the ongoing exploration of the origins of life.