Astronomers have detected a rare organic molecule, CH2DSH (methyl mercaptan-d1), in the protostellar core IRAS 16293-2422 B, located near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. This discovery, made with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), is significant because it provides new insights into the formation of organic molecules in space, which are essential for life as we know it.
The detection of CH2DSH, a deuterated form of methyl mercaptan, is particularly noteworthy because it is a complex organic molecule with a sulfur atom. Sulfur is a key element in many biological processes, and its presence in this molecule suggests that it may play a role in the formation of life in other parts of the universe.
The researchers used ALMA to observe the protostellar core, which is a dense cloud of gas and dust where stars are born. They were able to identify the spectral signature of CH2DSH, confirming its presence in the core. The molecule was found to be present in a relatively high abundance, suggesting that it may be a common component of interstellar clouds.
The discovery of CH2DSH adds to the growing list of organic molecules that have been detected in space. This research provides further evidence that the building blocks of life are widespread in the universe, and it raises the possibility that life may exist elsewhere.