Astronomers have detected one of the largest carbon-based molecules ever discovered in deep space, identified as pyrene, within the Taurus molecular cloud, located 430 light-years from Earth.
The molecule, a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), is of significant interest because it offers new clues about the distribution of carbon, a fundamental building block of life, throughout the cosmos. The discovery, published in Science, bridges the gap between ancient interstellar clouds and the materials found in our solar system, providing critical insights into how carbon-rich molecules could have contributed to the formation of planets and life.
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