NASA says scientists have detected a new carbon compound in space for the first time by using the James Webb telescope.
The space agency says the carbon compound, known as methyl cation, is “important because it aids the formation of more complex carbon-based molecules.”
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“This detection not only validates the incredible sensitivity of Webb but also confirms the postulated central importance of [methyl cation] in interstellar chemistry,” Marie-Aline Martin-Drumel, a member of the science team conducting the research, said in a statement.
NASA says the “exquisite spatial and spectral resolution” and the sensitivity of the Webb telescope made the discovery by scientists possible.
“While the star in d203-506 is a small red dwarf, the system is bombarded by strong ultraviolet (UV) light from nearby hot, young, massive stars. Scientists believe that most planet-forming disks go through a period of such intense UV radiation, since stars tend to form in groups that often include massive, UV-producing stars,” NASA said in an article about the discovery.
Scientists working with the space agency also said ultraviolet radiation typically destroys complex organic molecules but that they are predicting UV radiation may provide the necessary source for methyl cation to form.
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NASA has previously revealed images of Neptune and Jupiter from the Webb telescope, providing detailed pictures that are significantly better than previous telescopes. Last month the space agency released the first-ever image of an inner debris ring around the Fomalhaut star.
The Webb telescope was launched into space in December 2021, and NASA has been releasing images captured by the telescope since July 2022.
