Spanish astronomers detect interstellar sugar molecule erythrulose

A team of Spanish researchers from the Astrobiology Center announced the first detection of erythrulose, a four‑carbon sugar, in the interstellar medium. The molecule was identified in the dense molecular cloud G+0.693‑0.027, located about 26,000 light‑years from Earth near the Milky Way’s central region. Observations were made with the Yebes 40‑meter and IRAM 30‑meter radio telescopes, which recorded twelve spectral lines matching the predicted fingerprint of erythrulose. Published in Nature Astronomy, the finding marks the largest non‑cyclic molecule and the first sugar containing four oxygen atoms detected in space, offering new insight into prebiotic chemistry and the hypothesis that RNA‑building blocks could have originated in interstellar clouds.

Scientists suggest the discovery adds to the inventory of complex organic compounds that may have contributed to the emergence of life on Earth, though the molecule itself is not suitable for consumption in its cosmic environment.