Astronomers have detected a sugar compound known as erythrulose within a molecular cloud in the interstellar medium, a discovery published July 13 in the journal Nature Astronomy. This finding marks the first time a ‘true sugar’—defined as a molecule with a spine of at least three carbon atoms—has been identified in the space between star systems.
Lead author Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, an astronomer at the Center for Astrobiology in Madrid, stated that the discovery confirms sugars can form naturally in space. Unlike previous detections of sugar-like compounds, erythrulose contains four carbon atoms, making it a significant precursor for the formation of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA.
The presence of this sugar in molecular clouds, where stars and planets originate, suggests a mechanism for how life’s building blocks might be transported to emerging planets. Researchers hypothesize that these molecules could be delivered to young worlds via asteroid or comet impacts, potentially providing the chemical feedstock necessary to spark biological processes. Carlos Briones, a co-author of the study, noted that this breakthrough increases the likelihood of finding other essential molecules, such as ribose, in similar cosmic environments.