Latest / Space News Today / Artemis Delays, Blue Origin’s Lunar Pivot, and Life’s Building Blocks in Space

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Artemis Delays, Blue Origin’s Lunar Pivot, and Life’s Building Blocks in Space · Space News Today

0:00
Welcome to [music] Astronomy Daily, your
0:02
source for the latest space and
0:04
astronomy news. [music] I'm Anna.
0:06
>> And I'm Avery. Thanks for joining us on
0:08
this Saturday, January 31st, 2026.
0:12
>> We've got [music] a fascinating lineup
0:13
today covering everything from NASA's
0:16
Aremis program updates to groundbreaking
0:18
discoveries [music] in the search for
0:20
life beyond Earth. Avery, what's on the
0:22
agenda?
0:23
>> Well, Anna, we're kicking things off
0:25
with some news from NASA's [music]
0:26
Aremis 2 mission. There's been a delay
0:28
in critical testing due to some
0:30
unexpected [music] weather challenges.
0:32
Then we'll dive into Blue Origin's
0:34
strategic shift as [music] they pause
0:36
their space tourism program for at least
0:38
2 years. After that, [music] we're
0:40
looking up at some truly cosmic
0:42
phenomena. Million mileph winds racing
0:45
through [music] colliding galaxies and a
0:47
mysterious object sending powerful
0:50
signals across space that has [music]
0:51
astronomers scratching their heads.
0:53
We'll also explore some surprising
0:55
findings about Tatooine style planets
0:58
orbiting binary stars and wrap up with
1:00
an exciting [music] discovery.
1:02
Scientists have detected a molecule
1:04
critical to life in interstellar [music]
1:06
space for the very first time.
1:09
>> Quite the journey today. Let's get
1:11
started.
1:12
>> Ready when you are.
1:13
>> All right, Avery. Let's start with
1:15
NASA's Aremis program. I understand old
1:18
man Winter has thrown a wrench into
1:19
their testing schedule.
1:21
>> He certainly has, Anna. NASA has been
1:23
forced to delay a critical fueling test
1:25
for the Aremis 2 mission due to below
1:28
freezing temperatures at Kennedy Space
1:30
Center in Florida. The wet dress
1:32
rehearsal was originally scheduled for
1:34
January 27th, but those unexpected cold
1:37
temperatures put it on ice, so to speak.
1:39
>> I see what you did there. But seriously,
1:42
what exactly is this wet dress
1:44
rehearsal? And why is it so important?
1:47
>> Great question. The wet dress rehearsal
1:49
is essentially a full practice run of
1:51
launch day procedures minus the actual
1:53
launch. The team loads the massive space
1:56
launch system rocket with over 700,000
1:59
gallons of super cold liquid hydrogen
2:02
and liquid oxygen propellants, runs
2:04
through all the countdown procedures,
2:06
and then drains everything back out.
2:08
It's the ultimate dress rehearsal before
2:10
the real show. So, they're basically
2:13
making sure all the plumbing works and
2:15
everyone knows their roles when the
2:16
clock is ticking down. What happened
2:18
with the weather that caused the delay?
2:20
>> Well, Florida experienced some unusually
2:22
cold conditions. We're talking about
2:24
freezing temperatures that persisted for
2:26
several days. The problem is that
2:28
loading these cryogenic propellants in
2:30
freezing conditions creates additional
2:32
safety risks and potential technical
2:34
issues. NASA's priority is always safety
2:37
first, so they made the call to
2:39
postpone.
2:39
>> Smart move. When are they planning to
2:41
try again?
2:42
>> The space launch system is now set to
2:44
roll out to launchpad 39B on February
2:47
5th with the wet dress rehearsal
2:50
rescheduled for February 8th. This means
2:52
the Aremis 2 launch is now no earlier
2:54
than April 2026, which is a shift from
2:57
the previous March target.
2:59
>> For our listeners who might not be
3:01
following every detail of Artemis,
3:03
remind us what makes Artemis 2 so
3:05
significant.
3:06
>> Hannah, Artemis 2 is absolutely
3:09
historic. This will be the first crude
3:11
mission beyond low Earth orbit in over
3:14
50 years, basically since the Apollo
3:17
program ended. Four astronauts will fly
3:19
around the moon, testing all the systems
3:21
and procedures that will eventually
3:23
support landing astronauts back on the
3:25
lunar surface during Artemis 3.
3:28
>> It's wild to think we haven't sent
3:30
humans beyond Earth orbit in 5 decades.
3:33
Who's on the crew? The crew includes
3:35
NASA astronauts Reed Weisman, Victor
3:37
Glover, and Christina Ko along with
3:40
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy
3:42
Hansen. Victor Glover will make history
3:45
as the first person of color to travel
3:47
beyond low Earth orbit. And Christina Ko
3:50
will become the first woman to do so.
3:52
>> That's incredible. Even with this delay,
3:55
April 2026 is right around the corner.
3:58
The wait is almost over.
4:00
>> Absolutely. And honestly, a few weeks
4:02
delay to ensure everything is perfect is
4:05
well worth it when you're pioneering the
4:06
return of human deep space exploration.
4:09
>> Speaking of human space flight, let's
4:11
shift gears to Blue Origin. They're
4:14
making some significant changes to their
4:16
program, aren't they, Avery?
4:17
>> They sure are, Anna. Blue Origin has
4:20
announced they're hitting pause on their
4:21
New Shepard space tourism flights for at
4:23
least 2 years. This is a major strategic
4:26
shift as they refocus their resources on
4:29
NASA's Aremis program and the
4:30
development of their lunar lander.
4:33
>> 2 years is a substantial pause. What's
4:36
driving this decision?
4:37
>> It all comes down to their Blue Moon
4:39
lunar lander program. Blue Origin won a
4:42
contract from NASA worth potentially up
4:44
to $3.6 billion to develop a human
4:47
landing system for the Aremis missions.
4:49
They're planning an uncrrewed
4:50
demonstration mission to the moon in
4:52
2028. And that's requiring a massive
4:55
concentration of their engineering
4:57
talent and resources.
4:59
>> So they're essentially choosing moon
5:01
landings over suborbital tourism
5:03
flights. That seems like a pretty clear
5:05
indication of where they see the bigger
5:07
opportunity.
5:08
>> Exactly. And it's worth noting that Blue
5:10
Origin has already conducted eight
5:12
successful New Shepard tourism flights
5:14
since July 2021, carrying 43 people past
5:18
the Carmen line, the internationally
5:20
recognized boundary of space at 100 km
5:23
altitude. So they've proven the concept
5:26
and the technology.
5:27
>> I remember the excitement around those
5:29
early flights. What exactly will
5:31
passengers experience on a New Shepard
5:33
flight? It's a roughly 11-minute journey
5:36
where passengers experience about 3
5:38
minutes of weightlessness at the top of
5:39
the ark. The capsule has massive
5:42
windows, the largest ever flown in
5:44
space, giving spectacular views of
5:46
Earth's curvature and the blackness of
5:48
space. It's suborbital, meaning you go
5:50
up and come right back down, but you
5:53
definitely cross into space.
5:55
>> And this pause is specifically for the
5:57
tourism program. What about other New
5:59
Shepard missions?
6:00
>> Good distinction, Anna. New Shepard will
6:03
continue flying cargo and research
6:05
missions. Blue Origin has committed to
6:07
conducting at least two cargo flights
6:08
each year during this tourism pause.
6:11
These missions carry scientific
6:12
experiments and payloads for various
6:14
customers, including NASA.
6:16
>> What about their ticket sales? I imagine
6:19
people have already paid for future
6:21
flights.
6:22
>> Yes, and Blue Origin says they'll be
6:24
contacting customers who've already
6:25
purchased tickets to discuss their
6:27
options. They haven't specified how many
6:29
people are affected, but they've
6:31
emphasized this is a temporary pause,
6:33
not an end to the program.
6:35
>> It's interesting timing, isn't it? Just
6:37
as several companies are getting into
6:39
the space tourism business, Blue Origin
6:41
is stepping back, at least temporarily.
6:44
>> It really shows you the scale of the
6:46
lunar lander challenge. Building a
6:48
spacecraft that can safely land humans
6:50
on the moon and return them to lunar
6:52
orbit is orders of magnitude more
6:54
complex than a suborbital tourism op.
6:57
Blue Origin is betting their future on
6:59
being a key player in the new era of
7:01
space exploration.
7:02
>> And with that NASA contract potentially
7:04
worth $3.6 billion, it's not hard to see
7:08
why they're prioritizing it.
7:10
>> Exactly. This is Blue Origin's moonshot,
7:12
both literally and figuratively. If they
7:15
can deliver a successful lunar lander,
7:17
it positions them as a major player in
7:19
the new era of space exploration. From
7:22
human space exploration to cosmic
7:25
phenomena, let's talk about something
7:27
happening on a scale that's almost
7:29
impossible to comprehend. Avery, tell us
7:32
about these million mileph winds racing
7:35
through space.
7:36
>> Anna, this is absolutely mindblowing.
7:39
Astronomers have discovered cosmic winds
7:41
traveling at over 1.1 million mph.
7:45
That's roughly 500 kilometers per
7:47
second, racing through what they're
7:49
calling a magnetic superighway between
7:51
two colliding galaxies.
7:53
>> A magnetic superhighway in space. That
7:57
sounds like something out of science
7:58
fiction. Where is this happening? This
8:01
incredible phenomenon is occurring in a
8:04
system called IC1623
8:07
which is actually two galaxies in the
8:09
process of merging together located
8:12
about 275
8:14
million light years from Earth in the
8:16
constellation Cedus. These galaxies are
8:20
in the late stages of a cosmic collision
8:23
and it's creating some extraordinary
8:25
physics.
8:26
>> Walk us through what's actually
8:27
happening here. How do galaxies
8:29
colliding create these super fast winds?
8:33
>> When galaxies merge, their gravitational
8:35
interactions trigger massive bursts of
8:38
star formation. We're talking thousands
8:40
of stars being born. These newborn stars
8:43
live fast and die young, creating
8:46
powerful stellar winds and supernova
8:48
explosions. All of this activity
8:50
generates enormous amounts of energy
8:53
that drives material outward at
8:55
incredible speeds. and the magnetic
8:58
superhighway. What role does that play?
9:01
>> Here's where it gets really fascinating.
9:03
The team from the University of
9:05
Hershshire discovered that magnetic
9:07
fields are actually channeling these
9:09
winds, creating what they call a
9:12
superighway that connects the two
9:13
galactic cores. Think of it like a
9:16
cosmic interstate highway system, but
9:18
instead of cars, you've got superheated
9:21
gas screaming along at speeds that make
9:23
Earth's fastest spacecraft look like
9:25
they're standing still.
9:27
>> That's an amazing image. How did they
9:30
detect something like this?
9:32
>> They used the Arakama Large Millm Array,
9:35
ALMA, in Chile, which is specifically
9:37
designed to observe cold gas and dust in
9:39
the universe. What they found was
9:41
unexpected. The magnetic field structure
9:44
doesn't just randomly radiate outward
9:46
like many galactic winds do. Instead,
9:49
it's highly organized, creating this
9:52
directed pathway between the galactic
9:54
centers.
9:55
>> Why is this discovery so significant?
9:58
What does it tell us about galaxy
10:00
evolution?
10:01
>> This is crucial for understanding how
10:03
galaxies grow and evolve. These powerful
10:06
outflows, what astronomers call
10:08
feedback, can actually regulate star
10:11
formation by expelling the gas and dust
10:13
that would otherwise collapse to form
10:16
new stars. It's like a pressure release
10:18
valve for galaxies. Too much star
10:20
formation can blow away the material
10:22
needed to make more stars, which can
10:24
eventually slow down or even halt a
10:27
galaxy's growth.
10:28
>> So, galaxies regulate their own growth
10:31
through these winds. That's a pretty
10:33
elegant self-limiting system.
10:36
>> It really is. And what makes IC1623
10:40
particularly interesting is that we're
10:42
seeing this process in action during a
10:44
galaxy merger. When galaxies collide, we
10:47
see the most extreme versions of these
10:50
processes. The most intense star
10:52
formation, the most powerful winds, the
10:55
strongest magnetic fields. It's like
10:57
watching galaxy evolution. and fast
10:59
forward.
11:00
>> What do we think the fate of IC1623
11:04
will be?
11:04
>> Eventually, these two galaxies will
11:06
completely merge into a single larger
11:09
galaxy. The current burst of star
11:11
formation will eventually exhaust much
11:13
of the available gas. And what we're
11:15
looking at now, this spectacular phase
11:18
of cosmic winds and magnetic highways
11:20
will fade. But the combined galaxy will
11:23
carry the imprint of this violent event
11:25
in its structure and stellar populations
11:28
for billions of years to come.
11:30
>> It's humbling to think that we're
11:31
witnessing something that takes millions
11:33
of years to play out, just captured in a
11:36
snapshot.
11:37
>> Absolutely. And every time we point our
11:40
telescopes at merging galaxies, we learn
11:42
something new about the forces shaping
11:44
the universe's largest structures.
11:47
Speaking of pointing our telescopes at
11:49
the universe and finding surprises,
11:51
Avery, we need to talk about this
11:53
mysterious object that's been sending
11:55
powerful signals across the galaxy. The
11:57
headline says it's unlike anything we
12:00
have seen before.
12:01
>> That's not just hype, Anna. Astronomers
12:04
have discovered something truly
12:06
puzzling. A cosmic object that's
12:08
periodically sending out intense radio
12:11
signals. And it doesn't fit into any
12:14
category of known astronomical
12:16
phenomena. It's one of those discoveries
12:18
that makes you rethink what you thought
12:20
you knew.
12:20
>> Okay, you've got my attention. What
12:23
exactly are we dealing with here?
12:25
>> The object sends out extremely bright
12:28
radio pulses that last about 30 to 300
12:31
seconds. That's up to 5 minutes per
12:34
pulse. And these pulses occur roughly
12:36
every 2.9 hours with remarkable
12:39
regularity. What makes this so unusual
12:42
is the combination of that long period
12:44
and the duration of the pulses
12:46
themselves.
12:47
>> When you say it doesn't fit known
12:49
categories, what are the usual suspects
12:51
for objects that send out regular
12:53
signals like this?
12:55
>> Great question. The two most common
12:57
sources of periodic radio signals are
13:00
pulsars and magnetars. Pulsars are
13:03
rapidly spinning neutron stars that
13:05
sweep beams of radiation across space
13:07
like a cosmic lighthouse. But they
13:10
typically pulse on the order of
13:11
milliseconds to seconds, not hours. And
13:15
their individual pulses are brief,
13:17
usually milliseconds, not minutes.
13:19
>> So this object is pulsing way too slowly
13:22
to be a normal pulsar.
13:24
>> Exactly. And the pulses last far too
13:26
long. Magnetars, which are neutron stars
13:29
with incredibly powerful magnetic
13:31
fields, can sometimes produce longer
13:34
period signals than regular pulsars, but
13:36
even they don't typically operate on a
13:39
3-hour cycle with multi-minute pulse
13:41
durations.
13:42
>> Have astronomers proposed any theories
13:44
about what this could be?
13:45
>> There are a few possibilities being
13:47
investigated. One idea is that it could
13:49
be a white dwarf in a binary system,
13:52
which is two stars orbiting each other
13:53
where one is a white dwarf remnant. The
13:56
interaction between the two stars can
13:58
potentially generate these periodic
14:00
radio emissions. Another possibility is
14:03
that we're seeing some kind of unusual
14:05
magnetar or pulsar that operates
14:08
differently than the ones we studied
14:09
before.
14:10
>> When was this object discovered and how?
14:13
>> The discovery was made using radio
14:15
telescope observations. And what's
14:17
particularly intriguing is that the
14:19
signals are powerful enough to be
14:21
detected across vast distances. The
14:24
exact distance to this object is still
14:26
being determined, but the fact that we
14:28
can detect such clear periodic signals
14:31
suggests it's either relatively close in
14:33
cosmic terms or it's putting out
14:35
tremendous amounts of energy.
14:37
>> This reminds me of those fast radio
14:39
bursts we've heard about, brief, intense
14:42
radio signals from across the universe.
14:44
Is this related?
14:46
>> That's a natural comparison, Anna. But
14:48
fast radio bursts, FRBs, are different.
14:51
They're much briefer. typically lasting
14:53
milliseconds, though some do repeat.
14:56
This object's behavior is more periodic
14:59
and predictable with much longer pulse
15:01
durations. It's almost like comparing a
15:03
strobe light to a slowly rotating search
15:06
light.
15:07
>> What's the next step for studying this
15:09
mysterious object?
15:10
>> Astronomers will be conducting follow-up
15:12
observations across multiple
15:14
wavelengths, not just radio, but also
15:16
optical, X-ray, and potentially others.
15:19
They want to determine exactly where it
15:21
is, measure its properties in detail,
15:24
and hopefully identify what type of
15:26
object it is. Sometimes you need
15:28
multiple types of observations to build
15:30
a complete picture.
15:31
>> Do discoveries like this happen often
15:34
where we find something that just
15:35
doesn't fit our existing models.
15:38
>> More often than you might think,
15:39
actually, the universe keeps surprising
15:42
us. Every major improvement in our
15:44
observing technology reveals new
15:46
phenomena we didn't predict.
15:48
Radioastronomy in particular has a
15:50
history of unexpected discoveries.
15:53
Pulsars themselves were a complete
15:55
surprise when they were first detected
15:57
in 1967.
15:58
>> Could this turn out to be a whole new
16:00
class of astronomical objects?
16:03
>> That's definitely possible. If follow-up
16:05
observations confirmed that this truly
16:08
doesn't fit into any existing category,
16:11
it could indeed represent something new.
16:13
Of course, it might also turn out to be
16:15
an extreme example of a known type of
16:17
object, just operating in a regime we
16:20
haven't observed before. Either way,
16:22
it's expanding our understanding of
16:24
what's possible in the universe.
16:26
>> I love that we're still finding things
16:27
that make astronomers say we've never
16:30
seen anything like this before.
16:31
>> Me, too, Anna. It reminds us how much we
16:34
still have to learn about the cosmos.
16:36
Sticking with unexpected discoveries,
16:38
let's talk about planets that orbit two
16:40
suns. Tatooine style worlds. Avery, I
16:44
understand these aren't as rare as
16:45
scientists once thought. That's right,
16:47
Anna. New research is challenging our
16:50
assumptions about circumbinary planets.
16:53
That's the technical term for planets
16:54
that orbit both stars in a binary
16:57
system. It turns out these Star Wars
16:59
style worlds might be more common than
17:01
we previously believed, especially
17:03
around certain types of binary stars.
17:06
>> Before we dive into the findings, let's
17:09
set the stage. How common are binary
17:11
star systems in the first place?
17:13
>> Binary systems are actually incredibly
17:15
common, Anna. Roughly half of all
17:18
sunlike stars exist in binary or
17:20
multiple star systems. So, we're not
17:23
talking about a rare cosmic curiosity
17:25
here. Binaries are a fundamental
17:27
component of the galaxy's stellar
17:29
population
17:30
>> and we have discovered actual
17:32
circumbinary planets already, right?
17:35
This isn't just theoretical.
17:36
>> Absolutely. NASA's Kepler Space
17:39
Telescope discovered the first confirmed
17:41
circumbinary planets back in 2011, and
17:44
we've found several more since then.
17:46
These are real worlds orbiting two suns,
17:49
just like Luke Skywalker's home planet.
17:52
But the question has always been, how
17:54
common are they? So, what does this new
17:56
research tell us?
17:57
>> The study found that circumbinary
17:59
planets appear to be particularly common
18:02
around what are called equal mass
18:04
binaries. Systems where both stars are
18:06
roughly the same size and mass. In these
18:09
systems, the stable orbital zone where
18:11
planets can form and survive might
18:14
actually be more favorable than
18:15
astronomers previously calculated.
18:18
>> Why would having two equal mass stars
18:20
make it easier for planets to form? It
18:22
has to do with gravitational stability.
18:25
When you have two stars of similar mass,
18:27
their gravitational influence on the
18:29
surrounding disc of planet forming
18:31
material is more balanced and
18:33
predictable. There's less chaotic
18:35
variation in the gravitational forces
18:37
acting on the disc, which means there
18:39
are stable regions where material can
18:41
accumulate and grow into planets.
18:43
>> What about unequal binary systems? One
18:46
big star and one small one. Those
18:48
systems can still host circumbinary
18:50
planets, but the dynamics are more
18:52
complex. The larger star dominates
18:55
gravitationally, and the smaller star
18:57
creates additional pertabbations that
18:59
can make certain orbital regions
19:01
unstable. It doesn't mean planets can't
19:04
form, but the stable zones might be more
19:06
limited or located at different
19:08
distances.
19:09
>> This has implications for the search for
19:11
habitable worlds, doesn't it?
19:13
>> Very much so. If circumbinary planets
19:15
are more common than we thought,
19:17
especially in equal mass binaries, that
19:20
increases the overall number of
19:22
potential planetary environments in the
19:24
galaxy. Some of these could potentially
19:26
be in the habitable zone, the region
19:28
where liquid water could exist on a
19:30
planet surface,
19:31
>> although I imagine having two suns would
19:34
complicate the climate situation
19:35
significantly.
19:36
>> You're absolutely right. The climate on
19:39
a circumbinary planet would be
19:40
fascinatingly complex. You'd have
19:43
variations in heating depending on the
19:45
orbital positions of both stars relative
19:47
to the planet. Sometimes of the year,
19:50
both suns might be on the same side of
19:52
the sky, providing intense combined
19:54
heating. Other times, they'd be on
19:56
opposite sides, creating more balanced
19:58
illumination.
19:59
>> How did researchers arrive at these
20:01
conclusions about circumbinary planet
20:03
frequency? They combined observational
20:06
data from telescope surveys with
20:08
sophisticated computer modeling of how
20:10
planets form in binary star systems. By
20:13
simulating thousands of different
20:15
scenarios with various binary
20:17
configurations, they could identify
20:19
patterns about which systems are most
20:22
likely to host planets.
20:24
>> Are there any specific systems
20:25
astronomers are now targeting for
20:27
follow-up observations based on these
20:29
findings? The research definitely points
20:32
to equal mass binaries as high priority
20:35
targets for planet hunting campaigns.
20:37
Missions like NASA's upcoming Nancy
20:39
Grace Roman telescope and continuing
20:42
observations from groundbased facilities
20:44
will be keeping a close eye on these
20:46
systems. Every new circumbinary planet
20:49
we discover helps refine our models.
20:51
>> It's exciting to think those iconic twin
20:54
sunset scenes from Star Wars might be
20:56
more common in the universe than we
20:58
realized. It really is, Anna. The
21:00
universe keeps proving that the reality
21:03
can be just as spectacular as science
21:05
fiction. Sometimes even more so.
21:07
>> And for our final story today, Avery,
21:10
we're talking about a discovery that
21:11
touches on one of astronomy's biggest
21:14
questions, the search for life beyond
21:16
Earth. Scientists have detected a
21:18
molecule critical to life in
21:20
interstellar space. For the first time,
21:22
tell us about this breakthrough.
21:24
>> This is genuinely exciting, Anna. For
21:27
the first time ever, astronomers have
21:29
detected ethylenamine, a molecule that
21:32
plays a crucial role in forming cell
21:34
membranes floating in the vast spaces
21:37
between stars. This discovery has
21:40
profound implications for how we think
21:42
about the building blocks of life in the
21:43
universe.
21:44
>> Let's start with the basics. What
21:46
exactly is ethylamine and why is it so
21:49
important to life? Ethylamine is an
21:52
organic molecule that's a key component
21:54
of phospholipids which are the primary
21:57
building blocks of cell membranes. Think
21:59
of cell membranes as the walls and gates
22:02
of cells. They define the boundary
22:04
between the inside and outside of a cell
22:06
and control what goes in and out.
22:09
Without molecules like ethyleneamine,
22:11
you can't build functional cell
22:13
membranes. And without cell membranes,
22:15
you can't have cells as we know them.
22:18
Though this is truly fundamental to
22:20
life, at least life as we understand it.
22:23
Where was this molecule detected?
22:25
>> The discovery was made in a molecular
22:27
cloud, one of these vast, cold regions
22:30
of space where gas and dust accumulate
22:33
and where new stars and planetary
22:35
systems eventually form. These clouds
22:37
are essentially stellar nurseries. and
22:40
finding lifebuilding molecules there
22:42
suggests that the ingredients for life
22:44
might be getting incorporated into
22:46
planetary systems right from the start.
22:48
>> How do scientists actually detect
22:51
specific molecules in interstellar
22:53
space? I imagine you can't exactly
22:55
collect a sample.
22:57
>> Great question. They use radio
22:59
spectroscopy. Every molecule has a
23:02
unique spectroscopic signature. Think of
23:04
it like a molecular fingerprint.
23:06
Different molecules absorb and emit
23:09
light at specific wavelengths. Radio
23:11
telescopes can detect these signatures,
23:13
allowing astronomers to identify what
23:15
molecules are present in distant clouds,
23:18
even though those clouds are trillions
23:20
of miles away.
23:21
>> We've found other organic molecules in
23:23
space before, haven't we? What makes
23:26
this discovery special?
23:28
>> You're absolutely right, Hannah.
23:29
Astronomers have detected more than 200
23:32
different molecules in interstellar
23:34
space, including amino acids and sugars.
23:37
But ethylanamine is special because of
23:39
its direct connection to cell membrane
23:41
formation. It's one thing to find amino
23:44
acids, the building blocks of proteins.
23:46
But finding a molecule that's essential
23:48
for creating the actual structure of
23:51
cells, takes us another step closer to
23:54
understanding how life's fundamental
23:56
architecture might arise. Does this
23:58
discovery change our thinking about
24:00
where the building blocks of life come
24:02
from?
24:02
>> It definitely supports the hypothesis
24:05
that many of life's essential molecular
24:07
ingredients aren't created on planets
24:10
after they form, but rather arrive from
24:12
space. We already know that meteorites
24:15
deliver organic compounds to planets. We
24:18
found amino acids and meteorites that
24:20
have fallen to Earth. This discovery
24:23
suggests that even more complex life
24:25
related molecules could be delivered
24:27
from space.
24:28
>> Though in a sense the raw materials for
24:31
life might be common throughout the
24:33
galaxy.
24:34
>> That's the tantalizing possibility this
24:36
raises. If molecules like ethanolamine
24:39
can form in the harsh conditions of
24:41
interstellar space, then these building
24:44
blocks might be present in molecular
24:46
clouds throughout the galaxy. Every time
24:48
a new planetary system forms, it could
24:51
be inheriting these pre-made components
24:53
of life.
24:54
>> This doesn't mean life is automatically
24:56
everywhere, though, right? Having the
24:58
ingredients doesn't guarantee you'll
25:00
bake the cake.
25:01
>> Exactly. This is about potential and
25:04
possibility. Having the molecular
25:06
building blocks is necessary for life,
25:09
but it's not sufficient. You still need
25:11
the right conditions for those molecules
25:13
to assemble into functioning biological
25:16
systems. The right temperature,
25:18
pressure, energy sources, solvents like
25:21
liquid water, and probably a host of
25:24
factors we don't fully understand yet.
25:26
>> What are the next steps for this kind of
25:28
research?
25:29
>> Astronomers will be looking for
25:30
ethanolamine and similar molecules in
25:33
other molecular clouds to see how
25:35
widespread they are. They'll also be
25:37
searching for even more complex organic
25:39
molecules that might be precursors to
25:41
biological chemistry. Every molecule we
25:45
find helps us piece together the story
25:47
of how inanimate chemistry transitions
25:49
to the chemistry of life.
25:52
>> It's remarkable to think that the
25:53
membrane surrounding every cell in our
25:55
bodies might have had their chemical
25:57
ancestors floating between the stars
25:59
billions of years ago.
26:01
>> It really is, Anna. It connects us to
26:03
the cosmos in a very tangible way. We're
26:06
not just made of stardust in an abstract
26:09
sense. The actual molecular machinery of
26:12
life may have origins that predate Earth
26:14
itself.
26:16
>> What a perfect note to end today's
26:18
episode on. A reminder that we're part
26:20
of a universewide chemistry experiment
26:22
that's been running for billions of
26:24
years.
26:25
>> Well, that wraps up another day of space
26:27
and astronomy news. From NASA's Aremis
26:29
preparations to the discovery of life's
26:32
building blocks floating between the
26:33
stars, the universe continues to amaze
26:36
and inspire.
26:38
>> It really does. Thanks so much for
26:40
joining us today, everyone. Remember,
26:42
you can find us at astronomyaily.io
26:44
for full episode transcripts and
26:46
additional content.
26:47
>> And don't forget to follow us on social
26:49
media at astroaily pod for daily updates
26:52
and space news throughout the week.
26:55
>> Until next time, keep looking up. Clear
26:58
skies everyone. Astronomy [music] day.
27:03
Stories be told.
27:10
Stories [music] told.
27:19
[music]