Sugar has been detected in space for the first time
For the first time in history, scientists have discovered a sugar molecule not in a meteorite or on an asteroid, but directly in interstellar space.
The compound in question is erythrulose — a complex organic compound found on Earth, for example, in raspberries, and which is used in certain cosmetic products. The discovery shows that molecules essential for life can form even before stars and planets are born.
The study has been published in the journal *Nature Astronomy*.
What type of sugar was found?
It is important to understand that this is not ordinary table sugar.
Astronomers have discovered erythrulose — a molecule containing four carbon atoms. Such sugars are considered important building blocks of complex organic chemistry. It is sugars that make up DNA and RNA — the molecules that store and transmit genetic information.
Until now, these sugars had only been found in samples of meteorites and asteroids. Now, for the first time, they have been detected directly within an interstellar molecular cloud.
Where the molecule was found
The sugar was discovered in the giant molecular cloud G+0.693−0.027, located not far from the centre of the Milky Way.
The discovery was made possible by observations using two powerful radio telescopes in Spain. The researchers recorded 12 spectral lines at once, which matched laboratory measurements of erythrulose perfectly.
Where does sugar in space come from?
Until now, it was thought that complex organic molecules gradually ‘accumulated’ carbon atoms, becoming larger and larger.
However, the new study proposes a different mechanism.
According to the scientists’ calculations, erythrulose may form directly within the icy shells of cosmic dust particles as a result of chemical reactions between simpler organic molecules.
This means that complex organic chemistry may begin as early as in interstellar clouds — long before planets form.
What this means for the origin of life
The researchers have calculated that during the period of intense meteorite bombardment of Earth around 4.1–3.8 billion years ago, between 500,000 and 50 million tonnes of this molecule could have reached our planet’s surface.
This does not mean that life arose as a result of erythrulose.
However, the discovery shows that the early Earth may have received ready-made organic compounds from space, which subsequently took part in the chemical processes that led to the emergence of the first living systems.
Furthermore, scientists now hope to detect other sugars in interstellar space — for example, ribose, which is a component of RNA.
Why this is important
The study shows that complex organic molecules can form even before stars and planets are formed.
This broadens our understanding of the chemical evolution of the Universe and increases the likelihood that the substances necessary for the emergence of life may be widespread throughout the cosmos.
Background
Sugars had previously been found in samples of meteorites and asteroids, but their origin remained unclear. One hypothesis was that these molecules originated in the interstellar cloud from which the Solar System subsequently formed.
The new study has, for the first time, provided direct evidence of the existence of sugar molecules in the interstellar medium.
Source
Izaskun Jiménez-Serra et al. Detection of a four-carbon sugar in interstellar space. Nature Astronomy (2026).