glycolamide Archives - Astrobiology

Graphical Abstract -- ACS Central Science

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Sample Return, Status Report

The Formation of Glycolamide on Interstellar Ices

by Keith CowingMay 7, 2026May 7, 2026

For decades, scientists have searched interstellar space for the chemical seeds of life. In this issue of ACS Central Science, Kaiser and co-workers (1) offer a striking advance in that […]

Graphical Abstract -- ACS Central Science

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Nonequilibrium Synthesis of Glycolamide (NH2COCH2OH), a Precursor to Amino Acids, on Interstellar Nanoparticles

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Complex organic molecules (COMs) are thought to form in cold interstellar environments, yet the chemical routes to key prebiotic precursors remain poorly understood. Glycine, the simplest amino acid, has not […]

(a) 1 mm continuum image of G358.93-0.03. Contour levels correspond to (20, 40, 80, 120, 200, 500, 1000, 1700) × σ, where σ is the rms noise level. The white ellipse in the lower-left corner indicates the synthesized beam 0.15"×0.1" (position angle -87.1◦ ). (b) Enlarged view of MM1. The continuum peak is marked by a white cross, and the offset extraction position used for spectral analysis is marked by a red cross. (c-e) Integrated intensity (Moment-0) maps of NH2CHO, CH3C(O)NH2, and syn-HOCH2C(O)NH2 toward G358.93 MM1, overlaid with 1 mm continuum emission contours from panel (a). The color scale unit is Jy beam−1 km s−1. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

First Detection of the Glycine Isomer Glycolamide in Hot Molecular Core

by Keith CowingMarch 25, 2026March 25, 2026

Understanding whether prebiotic molecules can endure and reform through the energetic stages of star formation is essential for tracing the continuity of interstellar chemistry toward life. Glycolamide, an isomer of […]

Graphical abstract -- astro-ph.IM

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

The Emergence Of Prebiotic Chemistry In The Interstellar Medium (ISM)

by Keith CowingDecember 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Contrary to popular belief, the interstellar medium (ISM) is not empty; it is filled with atoms, dust particles, and molecules.

Evidence for the formation of two-center one-electron (2c–1e) bonds in the predissociation complexes of the radical cations in ethanolamine (A), propanol (B), butanenitrile (C), and glycolamide (D). The ELF basins are shown in the left column, the projections into the heavy atom planes are shown in the second column, the spin densities for the unpaired electrons are shown in the third column, and the 2c–1e AdNDP orbitals are shown in the right column. -- Chemical Science

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

What Drives The Formation Of Unsaturated Molecules In The Interstellar Medium?

by Keith CowingJanuary 20, 2025January 19, 2025

We present a computational investigation into the fragmentation pathways of ethanolamine (C2H7NO, EtA), propanol (C3H8O, PrO), butanenitrile (C4H7N, BuN), and glycolamide (C2H5NO2, GlA)—saturated organic molecules detected in the interstellar medium […]