The Central Molecular Zone of our Galaxy, a chemical complexity factory: first interstellar detections of molecules towards G+0.693
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Víctor M. Rivilla · arXiv: 2610.26308v1 · Summary page
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A harsh cloud with a rich molecular inventory
Near the center of the Milky Way, shocks and intense cosmic-ray activity help make the molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 a productive chemical laboratory. A new review brings together results from sensitive, broad-frequency spectral surveys and laboratory spectroscopy: more than 140 molecules have been identified there, including 28 first detected in interstellar space in this cloud.
The inventory includes precursors relevant to prebiotic chemistry, molecules containing elements such as phosphorus and magnesium, charged molecules, and alternative molecular arrangements that are relatively high in energy. These findings do not amount to evidence for life. They show how extensive chemistry can become in a demanding interstellar environment, and how laboratory measurements make it possible to recognize its products across space.
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