Astronomers from the Max Planck Institute in Germany are searching for evidence of the existence of amino acids, the building blocks of life, in the universe. They used the IRAM telescope in Spain to analyze the electromagnetic radiation emitted from a region with dense material surrounding a newly formed star.
Astronomers have discovered high-molecular-weight compounds belonging to the groups of alcohols, organic acids, and aldehydes in the Milky Way. Image source: current.com.
The radiation from the star is absorbed by molecules in the gas and dust cloud, and then the molecules emit radiation at different energy levels (energy levels depend on the type of molecule).
During the data analysis, the research team discovered the presence of ethyl formate, the chemical responsible for the aroma of durian fruit, in the gas and dust cloud. They also found propyl cyanide, a toxic chemical, in the same cloud.
“Ethyl formate gives the durian fruit its flavor, but if we want the Milky Way to have a similar taste, we need to have many more types of molecules,” said astronomer Arnaud Belloche, a member of the research team.
Last year, Arnaud Belloche and colleagues discovered a molecule that could produce amino acids in the universe, called amino acetonitrile. Prior to that, astronomers also found various high-molecular-weight compounds belonging to the groups of alcohols, organic acids, and aldehydes in the Milky Way.
The durian fruit is a small tree with hairy and spiky branches, single hairy leaves with 5 lobes shaped like duck feet. It has clusters of white flowers, many stamens, and red pistils. When the flowers turn into fruit, they form double fruits resembling durian. The ripe durian fruit is beautifully red, with a sweet and sour taste, and is delicious to eat.