Complex organic compounds more common than previously thought

Astronomers have recently discovered evidence that suggests large amounts of complex organic compounds exist in space. The chemical structures of these compounds are very similar to those of coal and petroleum. Coal and petroleum are formed on Earth over time from the remnants of ancient life. These newly discovered compounds, however, appear to be naturally synthesized by stars and ejected into interstellar space. Professor Sun Kwok and Dr. Yong Zhang of the University of Hong Kong studied infrared emissions from deep space that were previously thought to be caused by simple organic molecules composed of carbon and hydrogen. Kwok and Zhang's recent data suggests otherwise; the two analyzed star dust formed in exploding stars to find characteristics that would not be present with simpler organic molecules. This discovery sheds new light on the existence of complex organic molecules throughout the universe, such as those that may have been present during the development of life on Earth.

Source: ScienceDaily: Astronomers Discover Complex Organic Matter Exists Throughout the Universe