Astronomers Discover Centre of the Milky Way Has Distinctive Aroma and Taste

Milky Way Center’s Relish the Raspberries and Rum Aroma

Have you ever wondered what the Milky Way smelled like, with all those beautiful galaxies? Astronomers recently made an astonishing discovery: the center of the Milky Way had a unique aroma and taste. Scientists found special chemicals in this area, hinting at its distinct flavors and scents. This exciting discovery not only deepened our understanding of the universe but also opened new ways to study distant parts of space. We explored the aromatic flavors and scents of the Milky Way's center.

Distinctive Discovery

Astronomers from the Max Planck Institute made this discovery while studying Sagittarius B2, a dust cloud with their IRAM radio telescope in Spain. Among their findings, they announced the detection of ethyl formate (C3H6O2), a chemical that gives raspberries their flavor and is also significant in rum. However, Arnaud Belloche, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, told The Guardian , "It did give raspberries their flavor, but there were many other molecules needed to create space raspberries." Additionally, the density of these chemicals was too low to be useful, and there wasn’t enough oxygen to breathe.

The Actual Target

Knewz.com noted that in 2009, astronomers were originally searching for amino acids in Sagittarius B2. Instead, they found ethyl formate and another toxic chemical called propyl cyanide. Belloche remarked, "I wouldn’t have been surprised if we had found an amino acid out there in the coming years." Additionally, Robin Garrod from Cornell University, who was responsible for collecting signals, explained to The Guardian , "There was no apparent limit to the size of molecules that could be formed by this process, so there was good reason to expect even more complex organic molecules to be there."

Understanding Sagittarius B2

Sagittarius B2 was one of the largest gas clouds, appearing as a bright orange-red area towards the middle left of the image, near the center of the galaxy. Discovered in the 1960s, this cloud was 25,000 light years away from Earth and contained a variety of molecules, according to Astronomy & Astrophysics . Astronomers detected several large organic compounds, such as alcohols, acids, and aldehydes. In addition to finding traces of ethyl formate, scientists discovered amino acetonitrile, a molecule used to make amino acids, which raised hopes of finding amino acids near the Galactic Center.

Amino Acids in Sagittarius B2— Why?

Scientists’ goal of locating amino acids in Sagittarius B2 was more than just a discovery. Amino acids are crucial components of proteins, which are essential for life. Since Sagittarius B2 was a major area where stars were forming, finding traces of amino acids there could have helped us understand life’s potential on other planets or moons. Belloche stated to ScienceDaily , "Understanding the production of organic material during the early stages of star formation was critical for piecing together the gradual progression from simple molecules to potentially life-supporting chemistry."