Webb telescope helps find ‘building blocks of life’ in dark, cold molecular clouds in space

In our solar system, it is believed that these elements were delivered to Earth by impacts with icy comets and asteroids. Also, scientists believe that such ices were probably present in the dark cloud of cold dust and gas that would eventually collapse to make the solar system.

The icy dust grains in these dark and cold molecular clouds provide a unique setting for atoms and molecules to meet. This can trigger chemical reactions that can create common substances like water. According to ESA, detailed lab studies have confirmed that some simple prebiotic molecules can form under such conditions.

Apart from simple ices like water, the new investigation allowed scientists to identify frozen forms of a wide range of molecules including carbonyl sulfie, ammonia, methane and even methanol. According to the space agency, this is the most comprehensive census to date of the icy ingredients that can make future stars and planets.

In addition to the molecules that were identified, the research team also found evidence of prebiotic molecules that are more complex than methanol. They couldn’t definitively attribute these signals to specific molecules but the research has proven for the first time that even complex molecules can form in the depths of these molecular clouds.