James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

Cheers! NASA's Webb Finds Ethanol, Other Icy Ingredients for Worlds

How were ingredients for life delivered to Earth? New Webb data shows icy, carbon-containing molecules around 2 baby stars that have yet to form planets. These findings tell us about how such molecules may get transported to potentially habitable worlds. This image is of the region near the protostar IRAS 23385. Astronomers have been puzzled over whether COMs are made in the ice or gas phase. Webb’s results suggest that the chemical reactions forming COMs take place in the ice phase, and previously detected gaseous COMs originate from sublimation (when solids change directly into gas). COMs in cold ices are thought to be easier to transport from molecular clouds to planet-forming disks than warm, gaseous molecules. These icy COMs can be incorporated into comets and asteroids, which could then collide with forming planets and deliver ingredients for life. Read more: science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/cheers-nasas-webb-finds-et... Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, W.R.M. Rocha (LEI), Leah Hustak (STScI) Image description: Image of a molecular cloud region. The orange cloud is dense and bright near the top and grows darker and wispier toward the bottom. One bright star with short diffraction spikes and several dimmer stars are visible. Image & Description by NASA