ALMA detects ingredient of life around young Sun-like stars
1,350 views · Published 8 June 2017 · 0:21 · Indexed 12 November 2026
Channel: European Southern Observatory (ESO) · 2017 · Science & Technology
ALMA has observed stars like the Sun at a very early stage in their formation and found traces of methyl isocyanate — a chemical building block of life. This is the first ever detection of this prebiotic molecule towards a solar-type protostar, the sort from which our Solar System evolved. The discovery could help astronomers understand how life arose on Earth. This video gives a very close-up view of what these molecules look like. More information and download options: http://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso1718b/ Credit: ESO/L. Calçada
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