Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important carriers of organic matter throughout the universe. As organic molecules, they play a central role in interstellar chemistry and are closely related to the origin of prebiotic molecules. Understanding how these organic compounds evolve in molecular clouds—the cold, dark cradles of star formation—is essential for tracing the origins of complex molecules that may lead to life.
Researchers reveal key role of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in molecular clouds
