Recent advances in vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photochemistry have enabled us to explore the role of astrochemistry in the formation of complex organic molecules (COMs) in space. This is an exciting development in our understanding of the chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM). The ISM is a vast sea of gas and dust which surrounds stars and galaxies, and is where stars are born. It is believed that COMs, molecules with more than six atoms, may form on the surfaces of dust grains in the ISM and eventually become part of the building blocks of life. Using VUV photochemistry, scientists can now simulate the conditions of the ISM and investigate the role that astrochemistry plays in the formation of COMs. This could help us to further understand the process of star and planet formation, and ultimately, the origins of life.

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source: Phys.org