James Webb Telescope Discovers Organic Molecules in Space

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified complex organic molecules, including ethanol, around young stars, hinting at the building blocks of habitable planets.

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected complex organic molecules such as ethanol and acetic acid around two protostars, suggesting the presence of key ingredients for potentially habitable worlds.
These molecules were found in icy compounds surrounding the protostars IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, indicating that such complex organic molecules may originate from the sublimation of ices.
The discovery could provide insights into the chemical complexity developed in star-forming regions and the potential habitability of future exoplanetary systems.
The presence of these molecules in space supports the theory that the building blocks of life could be more common across the cosmos than previously thought.
Astronomers plan to follow this astrochemical trail with more Webb data in the coming years, potentially uncovering further details about the origins of complex organic molecules in space.