Building Block of Life Found in Space

**DisgruntledGoat** · August 29, 2012, 11:19 AM

Very interesting news about findings that will be published later this month. Astronomers say they have found an organic molecule floating in the gas cloud surrounding a young (10,000 year old) star similar to that of our sun. The organic molecule being Glycolaldehyde an integral part of the Formose Reaction which is used to create sugars required for RNA. Its becoming exceedingly clear that spontaneous formation of organic material on earth from inorganic material is not required for abiogensis. As all the building blocks may very well be present in the solar system following the birth of a star.

Source

**Psychonaut** · August 29, 2012, 12:08 PM

Wait how can they see a molecule from 400 light years away? Damn scientists and their crazy telescopes.

Awesome, nonetheless.

**Lord Baal** · August 29, 2012, 01:01 PM

They don't see the molecules, they analyze the spectrum of light they reflect.

**visser300** · August 29, 2012, 09:37 PM

Then it could be anything. I wont believe anything until they take it to earth and analyze it under micro telescope in a controlled environment.

**Lord Baal** · August 30, 2012, 07:16 AM

Actually it can't be just anything. Each element has it's own reflection spectrum, and the combination of some in specific ways also lend to specific reflections. At least that was what I was told when I took an astronomy course.

**Col. Tartleton** · August 30, 2012, 07:51 AM

So the fact that the simplest sugar forms naturally means what? That Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon exist?

I bet there is silica dioxide elsewhere in the universe too.

Obviously all the basic molecules on earth will be elsewhere, its a big place.

Apparently ethanol is very common out there. The question of import is whether their are alien yeast making alien beer for alien people.

**DisgruntledGoat** · August 30, 2012, 08:11 AM

No that's not what it means...

This is the first time the molecule has been found around a sun-like star. The group also discovered that the particles of sugar are falling towards the inner solar system. Meaning not only are the sugars that make up RNA in the RIGHT kind of solar system they are moving towards the right location in the solar system. As the researcher who found them says:

The sugar molecules are not only in the right place to find their way onto a planet, but they are also going in the right direction

This is a pretty big step to understanding how life can begin. It has long been hypothesized that life began as RNA on earth. Finding this particular sugar (a main ingredient in RNA) floating around a sun-like star, in close proximity and moving in the right direction is a big discovery.