The Emergence of Prebiotic Chemistry in the ISM

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential for complex prebiotic molecules to form in the interstellar medium, which could have contributed to the origin of life on Earth, emphasizing the role of advanced telescopes in exploring this chemical complexity.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of large-area telescopes with multi-band instruments to detect and analyze complex prebiotic molecules in space, advancing our understanding of astrochemistry and origins of life.

Findings

ISM contains complex molecules potentially related to life.

Advanced telescopes can detect amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases in space.

Chemical complexity in the ISM extends beyond simple molecules.

Abstract

Contrary to popular belief, the interstellar medium (ISM) is not empty; it is filled with atoms, dust particles, and molecules. Some of these molecules may have been the very building blocks of life that, delivered to Earth via comets and meteorites, could have given rise to Life itself. A large-area single-dish telescope with superb sensitivity, field-of-view and multi-band instruments will allow us to explore the limits of chemical complexity in the interstellar medium, across our Galaxy and in external galaxies, determining whether amino acids, sugars, or RNA/DNA nucleobases can form in space.