The COMPASS astronomy survey is finding surprisingly complex molecules around young stars. One result is methanol, including a rarer deuterium-bearing form, near the young object IRAS 4A2.
This does not demonstrate life. It helps explain how organic chemistry can exist before fully formed planets appear.
Researchers also found natural methanol maser signals in many surveyed systems. Those amplified radio emissions can reveal physical conditions in star-forming gas.
Action: read the explainer and follow its study references if you want a deeper science rabbit hole.
