Astronomers discover carbon molecule in interstellar space

Astronomers have identified a new organic molecule, 1-cyanopyrene, in interstellar space. This finding provides insight into how carbon-rich compounds form and survive in these regions. Carbon is crucial to life on Earth and its presence in space has been a major area of ​​research. Scientists believed that carbon-rich stars released small carbon molecules that could not tolerate the harsh conditions of interstellar space. Researchers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian (CfA) have disputed this view. Their study, published in Science, suggests that these molecules can exist and evolve even in extreme environments.

Significance of the discovery

Bryan Changala, a co-author of the studyemphasized the importance of this discovery. “Our detection of 1-cyanopyrene gives us important new information about the chemical origin and fate of carbon,” he said. 1-cyanopyrene is part of the family of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Previously, it was thought that PAHs only formed in high-energy environments around aging stars. They are found in products such as the burning of fossil fuels on Earth. In space, studying PAHs helps astronomers understand their life cycles and their role in the interstellar medium.

The role of Taurus Molecular Cloud-1

The molecule was detected in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1 (TMC-1), a cold interstellar cloud where the temperature is just above absolute zero. Gabi Wenzel, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT, noted that TMC-1 serves as a natural laboratory for studying molecules that contribute to the formation of stars and planets.

The role of advanced technology

The NSF Green Bank Telescope made this discovery possible by helping researchers identify 1-cyanopyrene through its unique rotational spectrum. This study shows the collaboration of chemists, astronomers and modelers in understanding complex molecules in space.