organic molecules

Molecular emission lines from mysterious icy bodies captured by ALMA. The background image is a composite color map of the AE, with 1.2-micron light shown in blue and 4.5-micron light in red, based on AE data from 2MASS and WISE. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), T. Shimonishi et al. (Niigata Univ.)

Alien ice or cosmic relic? Scientists wonder about chilling discovery in deep space

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Scientists have discovered two mysterious interstellar objects containing water-rich ice and organic molecules, but their characteristics do not match any known objects. Are these cosmic relics or a new environment for the formation of living molecules?
A poster depicting all the compounds discovered in the OSIRIS-REx sample. Credit: NASA

Nitrogen-containing organic compounds that support life were discovered in abundance on the asteroid

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