James Webb Telescope Uncovers Life's Essential Carbon Compounds in Distant Star System
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected the molecule methyl cation (CH3+) in a protoplanetary disk located in the Orion Nebula, about 1,350 light-years from Earth. This discovery is significant as methyl cation plays a crucial role in the complex carbon chemistry required for life. The observations were made possible by the JWST's advanced capabilities in resolving smaller details and identifying specific molecules. The findings suggest that ultraviolet radiation, which is typically destructive to carbon-based molecules, may actually be instrumental in kick-starting organic chemistry and the formation of more complex carbon molecules in early planet formation. This is another remarkable discovery by the JWST, which has previously detected ancient organic molecules, the coldest ice molecules, and evidence of frozen water in a near-Earth comet.