Life's building blocks frozen IN A GALAXY NEXT DOOR

Life’s ingredients may have formed early in the universe

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The presence of these complex molecules in a low-metallicity environment similar to those found in the early universe suggests that the building blocks of life may have begun forming much earlier — and in a wider range of conditions - than scientists once thought.

While this discovery does not prove that life exists elsewhere, it indicates that organic compounds can endure through the process of planetary formation and potentially be incorporated into young planets, creating conditions where life might one day emerge.

Expanding the search for cosmic chemistry

Sewilo and her collaborators plan to extend their work by examining more protostars in both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds to explore how widespread these molecules may be.