News Astronomy

Carbon-ring molecules tied to life were found in space for the first time

Discovered in an interstellar cloud, the compounds are more abundant than predicted

Green Bank Telescope

The 100-meter-wide Green Bank Telescope (pictured) in West Virginia detected the first definitive radio signature from space of ringed, organic molecules known as PAHs.

Brett A. McGuire

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Complex carbon-bearing molecules that could help explain how life got started have been identified in space for the first time.