Historic Discovery in the Milky Way: First Real Sugar Molecule Found

Scientists have discovered the first real sugar molecule in the same region of the Milky Way where the compound giving raspberries their aroma was found. This discovery could help us understand the beginning of life on Earth. A team from the Center for Astrobiology in Spain detected the sugar molecule erythrulose near the center of the Milky Way. Erythrulose may have played a role in the formation of biologically important sugars before life began. Sugars are essential for energy production in cells and are building blocks of RNA and DNA. The discovery was made in the G+0.693 cloud of gas and dust near the center of the Milky Way, using radio telescopes. Researchers searched for erythrulose by looking for its unique radio frequency signature. 'This discovery could help explain where the first biologically important sugars came from before life began.' Scientists believe that erythrulose formed on the surface of dust particles covered in ice in space. Small molecules combined under the influence of radiation to form larger sugar molecules, which then spread throughout space. This discovery shows that we have been on the right track in thinking that sugars can form in space. Sugars have been found in meteorites and samples from the asteroid Bennu, and simple sugar precursors like glycolaldehyde and (Z)-1,2-ethenediol have also been detected in space. 'Erythrulose could help us understand the beginning of life on Earth.'