HONG KONG, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Chinese astronomers say they've discovered complex organic matter in space, suggesting it's not the sole domain of life but can be made naturally by stars.
Sun Kwok and Yong Zhang of the University of Hong Kong said an organic substance commonly found throughout the universe contains a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic components so complex they resemble the chemical structures of coal and petroleum.
Since coal and oil are remnants of ancient life it has been assumed this type of organic matter arose only from living organisms, but the new discovery suggests complex organic compounds can be synthesized in space even when no life forms are present, a UHK release said Wednesday.
Analysis of spectra of stardust formed in exploding stars called novae shows stars are making these complex organic compounds and ejecting them into the general interstellar space between stars, the astronomers said.
The discover supports an idea of Kwok's that old stars are molecular factories capable of manufacturing organic compounds.
"Our work has shown that stars have no problem making complex organic compounds under near-vacuum conditions," Kwok said. "Theoretically, this is impossible, but observationally we can see it happening."
