Stellar Bakeries: Two Suns, One Organic Recipe ⚡ экспресс
We present the results of observations of the proto-triple system HOPS-288 with the ALMA interferometer. Due to limited angular resolution, the system was treated as a proto-binary with components A and B separated by ~200 au. Three structures enriched in complex organic molecules (COMs) were identified: two hot corinos associated with each protostar and containing a wide range of COMs, plus an intermediate component traced by lines of CH₃OH and possibly CH₃CHO. The hot corino in HOPS-288-A shows signs of rotation, possibly indicating the presence of a disk. Similar rotation cannot be ruled out in HOPS-288-B. The intermediate component may be a shock region in the circumbinary disk or a bridge of material between the components. Comparison of column densities of ¹³CH₃OH, CH₂DOH, CH₃CHO, HCOOCH₃, C₂H₅OH, ¹³CH₃CN, and NH₂CHO showed remarkable similarity between the two sources. This suggests uniformity in complex organic chemistry in proto-binary and multiple systems. Further high-resolution studies are needed for a firm conclusion.
In the stellar nursery HOPS-288, where three suns are forming, the ALMA telescope revealed two scorching regions around a pair of them. At –170°C, ice on cosmic dust melts, and reactions bubble up in the gas: organic molecules are born — methanol and methyl formate. The latter gives raspberries their aroma; in this cosmic cloud 1,300 light-years away, a familiar berry scent lingers.
Thanks to spectroscopy — scientists identify molecules by their radio signals, much like fingerprints — it was proven that the ‘ingredients’ match. If this is standard in binary systems, the search for life becomes simpler.
🎯 Methyl formate — an ester found in the HOPS-288 cloud — is used on Earth as a raspberry-scented food flavoring.