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James Webb Discovers New Organic Molecules in Space Ice

11/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers from the University of Maryland detected large complex organic molecules (COMs) frozen in ice around a star in the Large Magellanic Cloud with the James Webb Space Telescope.
The study identifies five carbon-based compounds, including methanol and acetic acid.
Some had not previously been identified in interstellar ice.
Further work is needed to confirm results and compare COM abundances between the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way.

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Story summary

Astronomers from the University of Maryland detected large complex organic molecules (COMs) frozen in ice around a star in the Large Magellanic Cloud with the James Webb Space Telescope.
The study identifies five carbon-based compounds, including methanol and acetic acid.
Some had not previously been identified in interstellar ice.
Further work is needed to confirm results and compare COM abundances between the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way.