Discovery reveals rapid pathways to complex aromatic molecules in space

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The short version

• Scientists have known these molecules are abundant in space, but existing theories could not explain how they formed quickly enough to match what telescopes observe or the material that space missions returned from carbonaceous asteroids such as Ryugu.
• The research shows that a newly identified chemical reaction can build these complex molecules much faster than previously thought.
• Rather than adding carbon atoms one at a time, the process allows several new chemical bonds to form in a single step, speeding the growth of larger molecules.

What happened

The team demonstrated the process in laboratory experiments that recreated the extremely high temperatures found around aging stars and other energetic environments in space. The reactions produced several large PAHs that had been predicted but were difficult to explain using older models.

Why it matters

The discovery could improve scientists' understanding of how carbon evolves in the universe and how increasingly complex molecules are created.

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