Prebiotic Complex Organic Molecules in Space

As of 2017, about 200 complex organic molecules have been detected in interstellar molecular clouds. It was 1969 when the first organic molecule in space, H2CO, was discovered. Since then many organic molecules were discovered by using the NRAO 11 m (upgraded later to 12 m), Nobeyama 45 m, IRAM 30 m, and other highly sensitive radio telescopes as a result of close collaboration between radio astronomers and microwave spectroscopists. It is noteworthy that many well-known organic molecules such as CH3OH, C2H5OH, (CH3)2O, and CH3NH2 were detected in the 1970s. It is thought that organic molecules are formed on surfaces of cold dust particles in a molecular cloud and then are evaporated by the UV photons emitted from a star inside the molecular cloud.