JWST discovers ancient complex organic molecules and distant smoke in space.

1 min read
Source: Space.com
JWST discovers ancient complex organic molecules and distant smoke in space.
Photo: Space.com
TL;DR

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered evidence of complex organic molecules similar to smoke or smog in a distant galaxy more than 12 billion light-years away. These carbon-based molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are found in oil and coal deposits on Earth, as well as in smog. The discovery was made with the help of a gravitational lens, and the presence of these molecules is not uniform across the galaxy, the reason for which remains to be explained.

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