Ultraviolet light from stars, or starlight, may be a key component in transforming interstellar gases into complex molecules, a recent study has suggested using data from European Space Agency's (ESA) Herschel Space Observatory. Infrared observations of the Orion Nebula reportedly show that starlight is the cause that propels the formation of what become precursor chemicals, which ultimately creates the building blocks of life.
The researchers observed the ingredients of carbon chemistry of the nearest star forming region to our planet that forms enormous stars, namely the Orion Nebula. The scientists studied the temperature, motions and amount of the carbon-hydrogen molecule (CH/methylidyne), the carbon-hydrogen positive ion (CH+) and their parent, the carbon ion (C+), as per NASA. "On Earth, the sun is the driving source of almost all the life on Earth," said Patrick Morris, study author. "Now, we have learned that starlight drives the formation of chemicals that are precursors to chemicals that we need to make life."
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