ALMA COMPASS program detects methanol in young stars

The ALMA Large Program COMPASS (Complex Organic Molecules in Protostars with ALMA Spectral Surveys) has revealed new data regarding complex organic molecules surrounding young stars. Using the ALMA telescope in Chile, researchers are examining the chemical composition of 11 sun-like protostars at various stages of development.

Key findings include the detection of methanol maser emissions in more than half of the studied objects. This is considered surprising, as such signals were previously primarily known in the formation of much more massive stars. The presence of these signals in lower-mass young stars suggests they occur more frequently than previously assumed.

Additionally, the team achieved the first detection of deuterated methanol (CD3OD) in space. This specific molecule, where hydrogen atoms are replaced by the heavier isotope deuterium, was identified near the protostar IRAS 4A2 in the Perseus molecular cloud, located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth. These findings provide critical insights into how chemical building blocks may be incorporated into planet formation and the origins of life.