Space smells like rum and raspberries

a huge cloud in our galaxy smells sweet, like rum and fruit

By Smartasaurus· 1 min read Cosmic

Imagine the absolute center of our galaxy

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The short version

a huge cloud in our galaxy smells sweet, like rum and fruit
But the cloud isn't just a galactic cocktail.
Sagittarius B2 isn't the only 'flavored' part of space; researchers have also found molecules of acetic acid—the main ingredient in vinegar—floatin…

At the center of our galaxy lies Sagittarius B2, a giant molecular cloud that contains billions of liters of ethyl formate. This is the exact chemical compound responsible for the flavor of raspberries and the distinct smell of rum.

Astronomers searching for the building blocks of life found this chemical while scanning the cloud with a radio telescope. The cloud is massive, spanning 150 light-years across, and contains more alcohol than has ever been produced in human history. If you could fly through it and take a breath, the cosmos would smell like a fruity distillery.

But the cloud isn't just a galactic cocktail. It also contains propyl cyanide, a complex molecule with a branched carbon structure that suggests life's essential amino acids can form in the vacuum of space. The same chemistry that makes a berry taste sweet is swirling around a black hole.

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