tech
Astronomers Discover Sugar in Space That's Also Found in Raspberries: "Just Floating Out in the Galaxy"
Updated on: July 14, 2026 / 9:36 AM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- A sugar called erythrulose has been detected in interstellar gas clouds near the center of the Milky Way.
- This sugar is also found in raspberries and self-tanners and can convert to a form crucial for kick-starting life.
- The detection was made using radio telescopes in Spain, comparing signals to lab samples.
- This finding supports the hypothesis that essential ingredients for life may have originated in space.
- Researchers believe this indicates that key ingredients for the origin of life could be present in other regions of the galaxy, suggesting the possibility of extraterrestrial life.