Astronomers discover phosphorus molecules in the Milky Way; understand why this is important

A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona, in the United States, has made a surprising discovery that could change everything we know about the existence of life outside of Earth. Earth.

Experts have detected a gas cloud parked at the edge of the Milky Way, around 74,000 light years from Earth. The detail is that the cloud was full of phosphorus molecules in its composition.

The discovery impressed the scientific community because, until then, phosphorus was classified as an extremely rare ingredient in the galaxy.

On the other hand, it is already known that phosphorus is essential for the development of life, as are oxygen and carbon, for example.

The galaxy could be teeming with life

(Image: disclosure)

The cloud discovered by Arizona astronomers was found with the help of radio telescopes belonging to the university. She was named WB89-621.

Another mystery surrounding the celestial object is why the gas cloud is precisely on the “fringes” of the Milky Way, and not in its center.

After analyzing several possibilities, the experts responsible for the discovery inferred that it was not a rare cloud, but rather a clear example of the abundance of phosphorus in the galaxy.

In turn, this phosphorus may be produced by the stars themselves and passed directly to their surrounding planets.

Thus, taking into account the fact that this chemical element is a vector for life, it is clear that they can there are thousands of planets full of phosphorus in their atmospheres and which, therefore, can support life like We know.

All of this ends up increasing the habitable zone of the Milky Way and its surroundings, also increasing the possibility of alien life, intelligent or not, in our galaxy.

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