Scientists from the Institute of Fundamental Physics in Madrid, Spain, recently observed the Taurus Molecular Cloud—a nearby region where new stars are forming—using the Yebes telescope. They identified two nitrile-containing molecules, malononitrile and maleonitrile, whose presence could shed light on the chemical processes that may have led to the origin of life in the universe, as reported by Space. The Taurus Molecular Cloud is an interstellar gas and dust cloud, and the discovery of these nitriles highlights that complex chemical reactions are happening in space, potentially mirroring those that gave rise to life on Earth. According to researchers, nitriles are crucial in the prebiotic synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, the building blocks of RNA and DNA, making this finding significant for understanding life’s chemical origins. Typically, nitriles in space contain carbon-nitrogen triple bonds, which are highly stable. However, interstellar chemistry differs from that on Earth. In space, reaction outcomes are often governed by speed or probability rather than stability, favoring reactions that produce easily formed, resilient compounds like nitriles. This abundance and resilience of nitriles support the idea that they could have played a role in early prebiotic chemistry. To understand the formation of these molecules, the team explored possible interstellar reactions that could create nitriles. Data analysis revealed that malononitrile and maleonitrile are significantly less abundant than similar molecules containing a carbon-carbon triple bond. Reactive carbon radicals—often found in these interstellar clouds—are more prevalent than nitrile radicals, suggesting that carbon-based molecules form more readily than nitrile-based ones. The team notes that breaking the stable carbon-carbon triple bond is challenging, which could explain the prevalence of hydrocarbons in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. Despite extensive simulations, the researchers were unable to identify reactions that could easily form nitriles under the cold conditions of interstellar space. They believe that uncovering these processes will require further study of newly discovered reactions in interstellar chemistry. This research contributes to our expanding understanding of life’s origins, potentially guiding future discoveries of life beyond Earth. The post Molecules Found in Space Could Reveal the Secret to Life’s Origins appeared first on Anomalien.com.