23_PRL ka Amrut Vyakhyaan, 05.01.2022, Prof. Sun Kwok

Title of the talk: Organic Matter in the Universe

Abstract: Recent observational and experimental evidence for the presence of complex organics in space is reviewed. Remote astronomical observations have detected over 200 gas-phase molecules through their rotational and vibrational transitions. Many classes of organic molecules are represented in this list, including some precursors to biological molecules. In the Solar System, almost all biologically relevant molecules can be found in the soluble component of carbonaceous meteorites. Complex organics of amorphous structures are present in the insoluble component of meteorites. Several unidentified astronomical spectral phenomena observed in the interstellar medium are likely to have originated from complex organics. The observation of these spectral features in distant galaxies suggests that organic synthesis had already taken place during the early epochs of the Universe.

In this talk, we will discuss the chemical structures and possible origin of these organics. Specifically, we discuss the possible link between Solar System organics and the complex organics synthesized by stars during the last phases of stellar evolution. Implications of extraterrestrial organics on the origin of life on Earth and the possibility of existence of primordial organics on Earth will also be discussed.