In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled the presence of a new molecule in space, 2-Methoxyethanol. This complex organic compound, not commonly found in everyday products, is the largest and most complex ‘methoxy’ molecule ever detected in space. The MIT team’s open-access paper, “Rotational Spectrum and First Interstellar Detection of 2-Methoxyethanol Using ALMA Observations of NGC 6334I,” was published in the April 12 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The researchers first measured and analyzed the rotational spectrum of 2-methoxyethanol in a laboratory setting, combining experiments from France, Florida, Virginia, and Copenhagen. They then used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe two separate star-forming regions, NGC 6334I and IRAS 16293-2422B, searching for the molecule’s spectral signature.
Measuring and Analyzing the Rotational Spectrum
The researchers meticulously measured and analyzed the rotational spectrum of 2-methoxyethanol in a laboratory setting, combining experiments from various institutions. This collaborative effort allowed them to gather the necessary data to identify the molecule’s unique spectral signature.
Observing Star-Forming Regions with ALMA
Using the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the researchers observed two separate star-forming regions, NGC 6334I and IRAS 16293-2422B, in search of the 2-methoxyethanol molecule’s spectral signature. This approach enabled them to detect and confirm the presence of this complex organic compound in the interstellar medium.