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4 clusters · 39 sources · 9 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: TECHNOLOGY · INTERNATIONAL

Interstellar detection of erythrulose confirmed

Overview

Following the initial announcement on 13 July 2026, subsequent releases confirmed the detection of the four‑carbon sugar erythrulose in the dense molecular cloud G+0.693‑0.027, situated roughly 26,000 light‑years from Earth near the Milky Way’s centre. Observations with Spain’s 40‑m Yebes and 30‑m IRAM telescopes captured twelve matching spectral lines, and laboratory spectra verified the chiral ketose. The July 2026 Nature Astronomy paper led by Izaskun Jiménez‑Serra highlighted that erythrulose is eight to seventeen times more abundant than undetected three‑carbon sugars, indicating efficient formation on icy dust grains. The molecule represents the largest non‑cyclic species and the first sugar containing four oxygen atoms identified in space, expanding the known inventory of complex organics that could seed pre‑biotic chemistry on nascent planets. While not a consumable compound, its presence supports scenarios where RNA‑building blocks originate in interstellar clouds and may be delivered to early Earth via comets or meteorites.

Timeline

  1. 12 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Spanish astronomers detect interstellar sugar molecule erythrulose

    Spanish astronomers have identified the sugar erythrulose in a Milky Way molecular cloud 26,000 light‑years away, the largest sugar found in space, hinting at prebiotic chemistry origins.

  2. 15 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 15 sources
    Erythrulose sugar found in interstellar cloud near Milky Way centre

    Astronomers have detected the sugar erythrulose in the interstellar cloud G+0.693‑0.027 near the Milky Way’s centre, the first true sugar found in space, suggesting prebiotic molecules can form before planets.

  3. 18 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 9 sources
    Erythulose Sugar Found in Milky Way’s Central Cloud

    Astronomers led by Izaskun Jiménez‑Serra detected the sugar erythulose in the Milky Way’s central molecular cloud G+0.693‑0.027, the first confirmed interstellar sugar, indicating pre‑biotic molecules form in a

  4. 20 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 14 sources
    Erythrulose Sugar Found in Interstellar Space Near Galactic Center

    Scientists have identified the sugar erythulose in a molecular cloud near the Milky Way’s centre, the first true sugar seen in interstellar space, suggesting such molecules could have seeded early Earth.

Sources

agron.com.br · apach57.fr · aztecajalisco.com · braunschweiger-zeitung.de · bug.hr · ca.sports.yahoo.com · dalmacijadanas.hr · ensemblepourlaville.be · evariste.org · fehmarn24.de · futurezone.de · haberaktuel.com · independentturkish.com · index.hr · inversion.es · it-boltwise.de · lacronicabadajoz.com · mobtech.interia.pl · mymotherlode.com · news18.com · newscientist.nl · odia.com.br · online-news.it · op-online.de · parismatch.com · raillynews.com · sapo.pt · selecciones.com.mx · sport1.ba · studiotamani.org · tempo.com · thelibertydaily.com · tvaztecaguate.com · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br · upday.com · vosveteit.zoznam.sk · waarmaarraar.nl · wp.de · wr.de