Astronomers discover complex carbon molecules in distant interstellar cloud

Astronomers at MIT have discovered large carbon molecules, specifically pyrene, in a distant interstellar cloud. This finding suggests that complex organic molecules existed in the gas cloud that formed our Solar System and could have contributed to the origins of life on Earth. The researchers detected a related molecule, 1-cyanopyrene, using the Green Bank Telescope. Unlike pyrene, 1-cyanopyrene can be observed by radio telescopes, allowing scientists to estimate the presence of pyrene in the Taurus molecular cloud. This discovery supports the idea that complex molecules necessary for life could survive the harsh conditions of star formation. It strengthens the theory that essential building blocks for life on Earth originated from space.