Interstellar aldehydes are essential intermediates to form biomolecules necessary for the origins of life, but their formation mechanisms have remained elusive. Here, the authors elucidate the formation pathways of biologically relevant aldehyde, lactaldehyde, and its isomers in interstellar ice analogs composed of carbon monoxide and ethanol.
- Jia Wang
- Chaojiang Zhang
- Ralf I. Kaiser
