In March 2024, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) identified chemical ingredients that are essential for life in space, including ethanol, acetic acid, formic acid, methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide. These ingredients are found around two young protostars, IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, that are not yet forming planets. Ethanol is found in margaritas, and acetic acid is a key component of vinegar

The JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) also identified icy compounds made up of these ingredients. Other ingredients include formic acid, which causes the burning sensation of ant stings. These ingredients represent key ingredients for making potentially habitable worlds. 

The JWST is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched into space. It can view the universe at infrared wavelengths, which allows us to see the first stars and galaxies forming after the Big Bang

Among these cosmic constituents are ethanol, commonly found in alcoholic beverages like margaritas, and likely acetic acid, a key component of vinegar. This revelation not only tantalises the taste buds but also hints at the fundamental processes that could lead to the birth of habitable worlds.

The JWST’s mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) identified these icy substances, which are common on Earth, such as ethanol (alcohol) and acetic acid (a vinegar constituent). The JWST also identified formic acid, which causes the burning sensation of ant stings, along with methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide. 

These findings hint at the fundamental processes that could lead to the birth of habitable worlds

These molecules, which are key ingredients for making potentially habitable worlds, include ethanol, formic acid, methane, and likely acetic acid, in the solid phase. The finding came from the study of two protostars, IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, both of which are so young that they are not yet forming planets

Similar to the early stages of our own solar system?

Of particular interest is that one of the sources investigated, IRAS 2A, is characterized as a low-mass protostar. IRAS 2A may therefore be similar to the early stages of our own solar system. As such, the chemicals identified around this protostar may have been in the first stages of development of our solar system and later delivered to the primitive Earth.

“All of these molecules can become part of comets and asteroids and eventually new planetary systems when the icy material is transported inward to the planet-forming disk as the protostellar system evolves,” said Ewine van Dishoeck of Leiden University, one of the coordinators of the science program. “We look forward to following this astrochemical trail step-by-step with more Webb data

This revelation not only tantalises the taste buds but also hints at the fundamental processes that could lead to the birth of habitable worlds

One of the protostars under investigation, IRAS 2A, is a low-mass star that may mirror the early stages of our own solar system. The chemicals identified around IRAS 2A could have been present during the nascent phases of our solar system’s development, eventually contributing to the emergence of life on Earth

All of these molecules can become part of comets and asteroids and eventually new planetary systems,” explained Ewine van Dishoeck of Leiden University, highlighting the potential for these cosmic ingredients to be incorporated into forming planets

The JWST is the largest space telescope ever built, and its infrared capabilities allow it to see objects that are too faint, distant, or old for the Hubble Space Telescope. The JWST can observe objects that are 100 times fainter than the Hubble, and its infrared views allow it to go back over 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies forming

The JWST’s infrared vision can help astronomers:

• Compare early galaxies to today’s galaxies The JWST’s infrared sensitivity allows astronomers to compare the faintest, earliest galaxies to today’s grand spirals and ellipticals, helping us to understand how galaxies assemble over billions of years. 
• Study star-forming regions The JWST’s infrared capabilities allow it to probe deeply into star-forming regions to study the conditions that lead to new stellar systems. 
• Characterize the atmosphere of exoplanets The JWST can characterize the atmosphere of potentially habitable exoplanets. The JWST’s science mandate is divided into four main areas:
  • The first light in the universe 
  • The assembly of galaxies in the early universe 
  • The birth of stars and protoplanetary systems 
  • Planets (including the origins of life)

Cheers! NASA finds margarita, other alcohol-like compounds in space

Please like subscribe comment your precious thoughts on universe discoveries

Full article source google

https://www.amazon.in/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=555101-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=297f43a202fd21cae0cefd214e486472&camp=3638&creative=24630&node=1984443031