Organic molecules in interstellar space: Latest advances

M Guélin, J Cernicharo - Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 2022 - frontiersin.org
Although first considered as too diluted for the formation of molecules in-situ and too harsh
an environment for their survival, the interstellar medium has turned out to host a rich palette …

Pure hydrocarbon cycles in TMC-1: Discovery of ethynyl cyclopropenylidene, cyclopentadiene, and indene

J Cernicharo, M Agúndez, C Cabezas… - Astronomy & …, 2021 - aanda.org
We report the detection for the first time in space of three new pure hydrocarbon cycles in
TMC-1: cC 3 HCCH (ethynyl cyclopropenylidene), cC 5 H 6 (cyclopentadiene), and cC 9 H 8 …

Discovery of benzyne, o-C6H4, in TMC-1 with the QUIJOTE line survey

J Cernicharo, M Agúndez, RI Kaiser… - Astronomy & …, 2021 - aanda.org
We report the detection, for the first time in space, of a new non-functionalised hydrocarbon
cycle in the direction of TMC-1: oC 6 H 4 (ortho-benzyne). We derive a column density for …

First glycine isomer detected in the interstellar medium: glycolamide (NH2C (O) CH2OH)

VM Rivilla, M Sanz-Novo, I Jiménez-Serra… - The Astrophysical …, 2023 - iopscience.iop.org
We report the first detection in the interstellar medium (ISM) of a C 2 H 5 O 2 N isomer: syn-
glycolamide (NH 2 C (O) CH 2 OH). The exquisite sensitivity at sub-mK levels of an …

Precursors of the RNA world in space: detection of (Z)-1, 2-ethenediol in the interstellar medium, a key intermediate in sugar formation

VM Rivilla, L Colzi, I Jiménez-Serra… - The Astrophysical …, 2022 - iopscience.iop.org
We present the first detection of (Z)-1, 2-ethenediol,(CHOH) 2, the enol form of
glycolaldehyde, in the interstellar medium toward the G+ 0.693− 0.027 molecular cloud …

Discovery in space of ethanolamine, the simplest phospholipid head group

VM Rivilla, I Jiménez-Serra… - Proceedings of the …, 2021 - National Acad Sciences
Cell membranes are a key element of life because they keep the genetic material and
metabolic machinery together. All present cell membranes are made of phospholipids, yet …

Discovery of fulvenallene in TMC-1 with the QUIJOTE line survey

J Cernicharo, R Fuentetaja, M Agúndez… - Astronomy & …, 2022 - aanda.org
We report the detection of fulvenallene (cC 5 H 4 CCH 2) in the direction of TMC-1 with the
QUIJOTE 1 line survey. Thirty rotational transitions with K a= 0, 1, 2, 3 and J= 9− 15 were …

Discovery of two isomers of ethynyl cyclopentadiene in TMC-1: Abundances of CCH and CN derivatives of hydrocarbon cycles

J Cernicharo, M Agúndez, RI Kaiser… - Astronomy & …, 2021 - aanda.org
We report the detection of two isomers of ethynyl cyclopentadiene (cC 5 H 5 CCH), namely 1-
and 2-ethynyl-1, 3-cyclopentadiene, in the direction of TMC-1. We derive column densities of …

The magnesium paradigm in IRC+ 10216: discovery of MgC4H+, MgC3N+, MgC6H+, and MgC5N+

J Cernicharo, C Cabezas, JR Pardo… - Astronomy & …, 2023 - aanda.org
We found four series of harmonically related lines in IRC+ 10216 with the Yebes 40 m and
IRAM 30 m telescopes. The first series corresponds to a molecule with a rotational constant …

From the laboratory to the interstellar medium: A strategy to search for exotic molecules in space

C Puzzarini, S Alessandrini, L Bizzocchi… - Frontiers in Astronomy …, 2023 - frontiersin.org
The chemistry of the interstellar medium occurs under extreme conditions and can lead to
the formation of exotic molecules. These are species that on Earth are unstable and/or …