A recent study led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, unveils the first detection of a complex, ring- shaped molecule containing 13 atoms —including sulfur— in interstellar space. This discovery represents a major step forward in understanding the chemical reservoir of the interstellar medium and, in particular, the chemistry of sulfur, a key element for life. The finding bridges the longstanding gap between simple interstellar chemistry and the complex organic building blocks found in comets and meteorites, shedding new light on the cosmic origins of the chemical ingredients of life.
