Astronomers using the powerful ALMA telescope in Chile have discovered a treasure trove of complex organic molecules in the planet-forming disc of the young star V883 Orionis. Among them are ethylene glycol, a key ingredient in antifreeze, and glycolonitrile, a molecule that can give rise to amino acids and DNA components. These findings suggest that the basic chemical ingredients for life may be widespread in the universe, forming even before planets come together.

Complex organic molecules, or COMs, are made of more than five atoms and always contain carbon. Many are seen as stepping-stones toward life because they can eventually lead to amino acids, sugars, and nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. The detection of 17 COMs in V883 Orionis fills a long-standing gap in our understanding of how these molecules survive the turbulent transition from star-forming clouds to protoplanetary discs where planets emerge.

For years, scientists thought violent bursts of radiation and gas outflows during early star formation would destroy these fragile molecules, meaning they would need to reform later in discs. But the new study shows that’s not the case.
“Our results suggest that protoplanetary discs inherit complex molecules from earlier stages,” explains MPIA researcher Kamber Schwarz. This means the chemistry needed for life’s building blocks is carried forward, rather than starting from scratch.

Similar molecules have been found frozen in comets and meteorites in our own Solar System, where they formed on icy dust grains and were released when warmed by the Sun. Something similar is happening in V883 Orionis: the young star occasionally erupts with bursts of energy, heating its disc and releasing molecules from the ice. ALMA, which can detect their faint radio signals, was key to identifying them.

These discoveries strengthen the idea that life’s chemistry is not unique to Earth. Instead, the universe may be rich in the ingredients that set the stage for biology. As co-author Tushar Suhasaria notes, such molecules can form both in the cold depths of space and in later, more energetic environments. With each new detection, astronomers are piecing together the story of how life’s essential chemistry emerges long before planets – and perhaps life itself – are born.

For more details, read the full article by Max Planck Institute.