Sugar Found in Space Hints at Origins of Life

An international team of scientists detected sugar, specifically erythrulose, in interstellar space for the first time. The discovery, detailed in Nature Astronomy, occurred in a nebula near the center of the Milky Way.

Erythrulose, a four-carbon sugar found on Earth in raspberries and self-tanning products, suggests complex molecules vital to life can form even in extreme cosmic conditions. Researchers estimate millions of tons of this sugar may have reached Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment, a period between 4.1 and 3.8 billion years ago when asteroids and cometas impacted the planet, potentially playing a role in the formation of early biomolecules.

While sugars like ribose and glucose have been found in meteorites, this is the first detection of sugar in interstellar space. Experts caution the finding doesn’t solve the mystery of life’s origins, but supports the idea that these molecules could have accumulated on icy bodies and been delivered to places like early Earth. Further research is needed to understand how these sugars survive the journey through space and contribute to prebiotic synthesis.