Infrared - Your Guide to IR, FTIR and NIR spectroscopy An astronomical infrared study reveals one of the most complex organic molecules yet found in the interstellar medium - anthracene - offering possible new clues to the way the building blocks of life might have emerged. “Two years ago,” adds Iglesias, “we found proof of the existence of another organic molecule, naphthalene, in the same place, so everything indicates that we have discovered a star formation region rich in prebiotic chemistry.” Until now, anthracene had been detected only in meteorites and never in the interstellar medium. Oxidized forms of this molecule are common in living systems and are biochemically active. The new finding suggests that a good part of the key components in terrestrial prebiotic chemistry could be present in interstellar matter. (And along the same lines)… http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=23890&type=Feature&chId=8&page=1 A 2009 explanation for how the building blocks of life could have been activated now has new crystallographic evidence to support the emergence of the “RNA world” 4 billion years ago. Just thought that was kinda cool.

Infrared - Your Guide to IR, FTIR and NIR spectroscopy

An astronomical infrared study reveals one of the most complex organic molecules yet found in the interstellar medium - anthracene - offering possible new clues to the way the building blocks of life might have emerged.

“Two years ago,” adds Iglesias, “we found proof of the existence of another organic molecule, naphthalene, in the same place, so everything indicates that we have discovered a star formation region rich in prebiotic chemistry.” Until now, anthracene had been detected only in meteorites and never in the interstellar medium. Oxidized forms of this molecule are common in living systems and are biochemically active. The new finding suggests that a good part of the key components in terrestrial prebiotic chemistry could be present in interstellar matter.

(And along the same lines)…

http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=23890&type=Feature&chId=8&page=1

A 2009 explanation for how the building blocks of life could have been activated now has new crystallographic evidence to support the emergence of the “RNA world” 4 billion years ago.

Just thought that was kinda cool.

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