Discovery of Alcohol Near the Center of the Milky Way

A team of astronomers has discovered alcohol molecules near the center of the Milky Way galaxy in the giant molecular cloud known as Sagittarius B2, composed of gas and dust. According to the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, a research team led by scientists from Germany has found the largest alcohol molecule in space - isopropanol - in the Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud, which is located about 26,000 light-years from Earth and 120 parsecs from the center of the Milky Way. Using a spectrometer mounted on the ALMA telescope, the scientists detected isopropanol, which is used for disinfection. The researchers also found propanol, which is similar but differs by one carbon atom. This is the first time these compounds have been discovered in interstellar space. Therefore, scientists hope that this discovery will help in understanding how different materials can form in space.