ALMA detects methyl isocyanate around young Sun-like stars (artist's impression)

ALMA has observed stars like the Sun at a very early stage in their formation and found traces of methyl isocyanate — a chemical building block of life. This is the first ever detection of this prebiotic molecule towards a solar-type protostar, the sort from which our Solar System evolved. The discovery could help astronomers understand how life arose on Earth.

This artist's impression gives a very close-up view of what these molecules look like.