Radio observations

Molecular emission lines from mysterious icy bodies captured by ALMA. The background image is a composite color map of the AE, with 1.2-micron light shown in blue and 4.5-micron light in red, based on AE data from 2MASS and WISE. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), T. Shimonishi et al. (Niigata Univ.)

Alien ice or cosmic relic? Scientists wonder about chilling discovery in deep space

Scientists have discovered two mysterious interstellar objects containing water-rich ice and organic molecules, but their characteristics do not match any known objects. Are these cosmic relics or a new environment for the formation of living molecules?