Complex organic molecule found in interstellar space

BBC ^ | 09/26/14 | Michael Eyre

[Natufian]

Scientists have found the beginnings of life-bearing chemistry at the centre of the galaxy. Iso-propyl cyanide has been detected in a star-forming cloud 27,000 light-years from Earth. Its branched carbon structure is closer to the complex organic molecules of life than any previous finding from interstellar space.

[Natufian]

Fascinating

[Wildbill22]

So I have to ask: how do you detect Iso-propyl cyanide from 27,000 light years away?

[SargeK]

Just guessing - absorption spectra?

[Natufian]

Read the article. That’s why it’s there.

[Professional Engineer]

Litmus paper.../s

I believe Sarge is correct.

[SargeK]

I stand corrected. Emissions spectra.

[Boogieman]

Article says emission spectra.

[prisoner6]

Let me be the first. Probably the only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCtcgI4BcIQ

[Billthedrill]

As stars are born in the cloud they heat up microscopic dust grains. Chemical reactions on the surface of the dust allow complex molecules like i-propyl cyanide to form.

The molecules emit radiation that was detected as radio waves by twenty 12m telescopes at the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (Alma) in Chile.

Or so they say. Personally I think it was a really, really long cotton swab.

[blam]

The Intelligent Universe

[Da Coyote]

Wow, always loved that tune and did not know the composer was Burt Bacha...whatever.

[InterceptPoint]

So I have to ask: how do you detect Iso-propyl cyanide from 27,000 light years away?

I can answer that:

You take a small sample and add some other chemical whose name I forget. If it turns purple then it's Iso-propyl cyanide. Simple. Although, it could be that it turns pink. Or blue. Or something like that. Don't ask how you get that sample. We didn't cover that in chemistry. And, lets face it. 27,000 light years is a long ways away.

[prisoner6]

There is a festival in the PA town where it was filmed. Every year I want to go. That was a defining film. Fun. Not like the poop passed off today!

[struggle]

Another Perfect Burt Bacharach Track!

[Revel]

And of course the cloud could have ceased its existence 27,001 Years ago. We wouldn’t find out until next year.

[onedoug]

The Privileged Planet

[EEGator]

I was just talking to another FReeper in the Ebola news thread about it. It’s in Phoenixville.

[vmivol00]

C60...buckyballs...we’re discovered in space well before they were characterized or observed on earth.

[When do we get liberated?]

I believe it is also an ingredient in Bondo..

[Slyfox]

Complex organic molecules found in interstellar space