"NASA's Webb Uncovers Icy Ingredients and Organic Molecules in Space"

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have synthesized glyceric acid, a critical molecule for the metabolism of living organisms, for the first time in low-temperature conditions mimicking deep space. This discovery sheds light on the potential formation of important biomolecules in interstellar ices and their possible role in the development of life on planets like Earth. The study suggests that molecules like glyceric acid could have been synthesized in molecular clouds and star forming regions before being delivered to Earth via comets or meteorites, contributing to the building blocks of life. The findings provide valuable insights into the origins of life and the interconnected chemistry of our bodies with the chemistry of space.