Cosmic 'Missing Link' for Life Discovered

Scientists have discovered the largest organic molecule containing sulfur ever identified in interstellar space, a finding described as a crucial "missing link" in understanding the cosmic origins of life's chemistry. Sulfur is an essential element for life on Earth, yet large sulfur-bearing molecules have been notably absent in space until now.

The newly detected molecule, named 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione, contains 13 atoms and is significantly larger than previously found sulfur molecules in space, which typically have three to five atoms. This discovery fills a gap between simple interstellar chemistry and the complex molecules found in comets and meteorites.

This significant molecule was identified in a molecular cloud near the center of our galaxy, approximately 27,000 light-years from Earth. Molecular clouds are known as stellar nurseries where stars and planetary systems form, implying that the ingredients for life are transferred to nascent planets.