hot molecular core Archives - Astrobiology

Methyl Carbamate

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

First Interstellar Detection of Methyl Carbamate: A New Observational Anchor for Glycine Chemistry

by Keith CowingMay 12, 2026May 12, 2026

Glycine-the simplest amino acid-has remained undetected in the interstellar medium despite decades of sensitive searches, motivating alternative approaches to constrain its astrochemical origin.

Molecular structures of c-C2H4O and CH3CHO. The grey, white, and red spheres represent the C, H, and O atoms, respectively. -- astro-ph.GA

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

First Detection Of Ethylene Oxide And Acetaldehyde In Hot Core G358.93−0.03 MM1: Tracing Prebiotic Oxygen Chemistry

by Keith CowingSeptember 8, 2025September 8, 2025

Ethylene oxide (c-C2H4O) and its isomer, acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), are important complex organic molecules owing to their potential role in the formation of amino acids (R-CH(NH2)-COOH) in ISM.

Millimeter wavelength continuum emission image of massive star-formation region G358.93–0.03 at a frequency of 303.39 GHz. The synthesized beam size of the image is 0.41′′ × 0.36′′. The contour levels start at 2.5σ and increase by a factor of √2. -- astro-ph.GA

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

Observation Of Complex Organic Molecules Containing Peptide-like Bonds Towards Hot Core G358.93−0.03 MM1

by Keith CowingJune 4, 2024June 4, 2024

In the star formation regions, the complex organic molecules that contain peptide bonds (−NH−C(=O)−) play a major role in the metabolic process because −NH−C(=O)− is connected to amino acids (R-CHNH2−COOH).

Continuum emission image of G31.41+0.31 at a frequency 99.915 GHz (3.02 mm). The blue circle represents the synthesized beam size of 1.30′′× 1.02′′. The contour levels begin at 3σ (σ = 3.36 mJy, the root mean square of the background of the continuum emission image) and increase by the factor of √ 2. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Status Report

Detection And Chemical Modelling Of Complex Prebiotic Molecule Cyanamide In The Hot Molecular Core G31.41+0.31

by Keith CowingJanuary 25, 2024January 24, 2024

In the interstellar medium (ISM), the complex prebiotic molecule cyanamide (NH2CN) plays a key role in producing adenine (C5H5N5), purines (C5H4N4), pyrimidines (C4H4N2), and other biomolecules via a series of […]

Emission of SO, SiS, and SO2 integrated in velocity. Upper panels: velocity-integrated emission of, from left to right, SO N = 3 − 2, N = 2 − 1(2), N = 2 − 1(3), and N = 4 − 4 (see Table 1 for the spectral parameters). The integration velocity range is 85.7–105.8 km s−1 in all images to match the velocity interval where the PN emission is detected. The black contours start from the 3σ rms level of the integrated maps, which is, from left to right: 4.8 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 2.5 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 3.6 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 ; 2.7 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 , and the step is of 10σ rms. The white contour corresponds to the PN integrated emission, and the numbered regions "1" and "2" are those defined in Fig. 1. The synthesised beam is illustrated in the lower-left corner. To the right of the quantum numbers, we indicate the Eup of the transition. Lower panels: same as the upper panels for the SiS J = 5 − 4 and J = 6 − 5 lines, and the SO2 JKa,Kb = 31,3 − 20,2 and JKa,Kb = 101,9 − 100,10 lines. The 3σ rms level is: 2.9 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SiS J = 5 − 4; 2.3 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SiS J = 6 − 5; 2.95 × 10−3 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SO2 JKa,Kb = 31,3 − 30,2; 1 × 10−2 Jy beam−1 km s−1 for SO2 JKa,Kb = 101,9 − 100,10. -- astro-ph.GA

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

The GUAPOS Project: G31.41+0.31 Unbiased ALMA Spectral Observational Survey. IV. Phosphorus-bearing Molecules And Their Relation With Shock Tracers

by Keith CowingNovember 24, 2023November 24, 2023

The astrochemistry of the important biogenic element phosphorus (P) is still poorly understood, but observational evidence indicates that P-bearing molecules are likely associated with shocks.

Investigating

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Investigating the Hot Molecular Core, G10.47+0.03: A Pit of Nitrogen-bearing Complex Organic Molecules

by Keith CowingNovember 7, 2022

Recent observations have shown that Nitrogen-bearing complex organic species are present in large quantities in star-forming regions.

Rotational diagram of C2H5CN t

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Detection of Complex Nitrogen-bearing Molecule Ethyl Cyanide Towards the Hot Molecular Core G10.47+0.03

by Keith CowingNovember 4, 2022

The studies of the complex molecular lines towards the hot molecular cores at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths provide instructive knowledge about the chemical complexity in the interstellar medium (ISM).