Abstract
INTERSTELLAR molecules detected by radioastronomical techniques in clouds such as OMC 1 and 2 in the Orion Nebula and Sgr B2 in the galactic centre span a wide range of types and complexity. Among the heaviest of the molecules recently discovered is cyanodiacetylene1 (H—C≡C—C≡C—C≡N). There have been earlier detections of precursors to the simplest known amino acid glycine (formic acid and methanimine), and probable detections of polyoxymethylene polymers and co-polymers2–5 in interstellar clouds. We discuss here a possible identification of organic molecules of even greater complexity, and its implications for the start of biological activity.
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HOYLE, F., WICKRAMASINGHE, N. Prebiotic molecules and interstellar grain clumps. Nature 266, 241–242 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266241b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/266241b0
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